SANITATION 221 



tion, but must be proof against rats, skunks, and other noc- 

 turnal enemies. 



Hawks and crows should be watched for and shot. 



An opossum eats the head and neck of a fowl and kills one 

 or two at a time. A mink bleeds his victims in the neck and 

 sucks the blood, and will slaughter a dozen or two birds in a 

 night. Both leave the carcasses of the birds in the coop. 



MOLTING 



Fowls should be carefully watched, and need special care 

 and treatment during the molting period. 



The process of molting is a natural one, but is a severe drain 

 on the body. 



The general condition of the fowls should be noted before 

 the molting period comes on. 



Fowls that are not too fat and that stand extra feed at the 

 commencement of the molt do best. At times it will be noted 

 that birds molting have a delicate appetite, and in such birds, 

 if they are poor in flesh or overly fat, it may be regarded as a 

 rather critical time with them. 



Molting birds should have green feed. Animal food, such 

 as meat scrap, should be supphed in the ration. 



An occasional examination should be made of the birds, and 

 if thin a more generous allowance of feed should be given. 



Late molters are often caught in cold, damp weather. 

 Under such conditions the birds must be kept in warm quarters, 

 as having lost at least a part of their protective coat they must 

 suffer under exposure and sickness may result. 



Late hatched birds which molt late are not so profitable as 

 early hatched and early molting birds. The molt should be 

 over and the birds returned to laying before the high-price egg 

 season. 



Birds kept in close hot houses are noted to molt sooner than 

 those kept in well ventilated and cool houses. 



