Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-18
CARING FOR THE HOME FLOCK

AS the cool days Of early spring are
left behind and summer with Its hot
suns draws nearer IT brings with II
it's own peculiar problems. Chicks
that thrived during the cooler weather
are not SO thrifty; the brooder houses
and breeders are too close and hot:
the temperature and ventilation are
hard to regulate; there are greater de-
mands upon our time. and sanitation
is neglected. Hens that were laying
well during early spring begin to drop
off in egg production: diseases ap-
pear: little chicks refuse to grow and
incubators fail to hatch.
In hot weather chicks in breeders
or with hens do not grow SO rapidly
as those Matched during the cooler
weather of April. This may be due
partially or wholly to the condition OF
the breeding stock. the vigor and vi.
tally Of which at this season seems
to be lowered from the effects OF the
heat, with a consequent lowering OF
the vitality of the germ or embryo
within the egg, or. as too often hap
pens. the poultry keeper grows 4 little
weary of well doing. OF incubation
young chicks; the brooders and coops
done regularly ana fresh drinking
water is not supplied in sufhcient
quantities. The growing chicks are
too crowded in the coops without suf-
ficient fresh air. the opening OF the
coops in the early morning is neg
lected and the hens with their broods
are confined for hours to the hot.
stuffy, ill-smelling quarters. while
! the suns rays beat down upon the
j tops of the coops.
| 1t is at this time. when the success
of seasons efforts hangs in the
balance. that the very best attention
| should be given to both old ana
young stock, particularly to the lat
ter. as so much depends upon their
because of the fact that they have
not the powers Of resistance to un-
favorable conditions as have the ma
| tured fowls. Protect the chick as
much as possible from the effects OF
the heat; set the coops and breeders
in the shade whore their occupants
may get tho benefits of the cool
breeEes; give free ventilation, lots OF
fresh air: increase the Air cirouia-
ton day and night by raising the
by opening the fronts wherever pos
sible. see to 1t that there is con-
slant supply of fresh drinking weter
available. and this should be kept in
| the shade. Keep all rooSting ana
sleeping quarters clean. Most or
ganisms of disease increase more
| rapidly and become more active In
hot weather, especially under filthy
or insanitary conditions, which are
also favorable for the breeding Of
lice and mites. Coops that were at
the time Of Matching commodtous
enough for hens with their broods
may be entirely too small as the
chicks increase in sise. and this pos
sibility should be considered when
the coops are made. The crowding
Of chicks, whether in coope or In
breeders. is always attended with
danger and should be avoided. A hen
with twenty chickens requires = coop
with floor Of six square feet ana
a height Of about twenty inches.
Hot weather has great influence
upon the temperature within the In
cubator. and the machine requires
more careful attention at this time.
II 10 q difficult problem In some cases
to hold down the temperature to the
point required: turning the light as
low as possible often fails to over
come this condition. and 1t is some
times found necessary to open the
door of the incubator In order to
properly regulate the temperature OF
the egg chamber. In most cases in
hot weather it is also necessary after
chicks are Matched and dried of to
keen the door slightly open for the
purpose Of increasing ventilation and
I hardening the chicks before being
placed in the brooder.
With the brooders. as with the IN