Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-18

1t has been said that with the advent
of hot weather poultry enthusiasm willis.
There is a lot of truth in that June is
the beginning of the hot period, and II
there is month in the year that re-
qures more good work than another it
is June.
This is the month when the Grand Army
of Lice are out in full force. They have
come out of their winter sleep, and are
now prepared to do deadly work. There
must be strong effort made to rout
them out
Lice annually destroy more poultry life
than any other agency. They weaken the
stock-they put them in such a condition
that sickness and death is the result
Good poutrymen are prepared in adj
vance. They started fighting lice in jan
vary, and they have kept 1t up ever
Eince. The easiest way to conquer lice
Is to begin fighting while they are weak.
There should be a thorough cleaning OF
every house at least once week. The
droppings should he gathered and a re-
liable coal-tar product should be painted
over the roosts, in the nest boxes and
along the cracks and crevces. This will
not only destroy myriads OF vermin, but
the fumes will kill whatever disease
germs may be lettering about the prem
ises Dsinfection is indeed an important
step. Tobacco stems used for nesting ma
terial. in place of hay or straw is in
valuable as vermicide. The heat of
the hens body sends the fumes from the
tobacco up into the feathers choking to
death whatever insects come in contact
with it.
wHITEWAsH \ SPLENDID CLEAN
SER.
A good coat of whtewash, once or
twice during the summer season, bright
ems up the interior Of the house and is
excellent both as a vermin destroyer and
disinfectant. If Zenoleum or carbolic
acid is added to the wash it will be
still more effective.
The house made pure, and the vermin
destroyed. the next important step Is to
make the fowls comfortable, and keep
them so. II is not possible to entirely
prevent fowls from suffering from the
heat, but an effort can he made that
will save much of the discomfort.
Fowls must have fresh air at night.
They need it for comfortable, health
full sleep, so necessary for gaining
strength that they may be able to fulfill
their duties the next day. For this pur-
pose the scratching shed house Is
splendid acquisition. 1t freely admits
the fresh air, and if the north, east and
west walls Of the house are made draft
proof, the fresh air striking the stock
from the front will do world of good.
Fowls would rather roost outdoors at
night than in a stuffy house, and We
don't blame them. But where the house is
comfortable they prefer indoors.
During the daytime there must be
shady nooks-bushes or trees-where they
can reach the cool air and soil, especially
In the time of the day when the sun Is
the hottest. Where there is no natural
shade provision may be made by erecting
,anopies or awnings of burlap under
which the fowls may gather and be shell
tered.
For further comfort at night large
focks should be avoided, as they will
crowd while on the roost, and the ami
NAL heat will bring about a condition of
sweating. 1t is this sweating that rots
the feathers, causing shedding during
July and early August, and which be-
ginners are very apt to mistake for mott
Ing.
KEEP DRINKING VESSELS CLEAN.
The drinking vessels must not be neg
iected. Not only must they be kept filled
with pure fresh water, but they must
be kept clean. At least once week they
should receive a good cleaning, removing
all scum; and every day. before being
filled, they should have a good rnsing.
All drinking vessels should be kept in the
coolest possible place. Disease turks in
filthy drinking receptacles,
Strict attention must be given to the
quality of the food All articles of a
heat producing nature must be cut down
In quantity, Corn or starchy matter car
honaceous material, Is necessary to a
certain extent the entire year. II Is re-
ouired in order to properly balance the
ration, But to feed carbonaceous foods
In summer to excess will cause great
suffering and loss During winter fowls
will need about so per cent. OF carbon
aceous matter but during hot wcatt er
the amount must be cut down to about
25 per cent Green food is botn a medi-
cine and food, and should be piendfully
supplied during the heated term.
When 1t Is noticed that the ground In
the runs is becoming baked by the hot
sun, or that 1t is becoming filthy, 1t should
be plowed-a small hand pillow being use
full for this purpose. IL this Is done In
the evening, the fowls next morning wi
have a happy time scratching and gath
erine worms 1t is remarkable how much
a fowl finds to it's liking In an upturned
soil,
In feeding moist mashes during hot
weather no more should be put In
sours quickly and IT, therefore should he
q rule to visit all the hocks about al