Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-10
The Flock In Summer

Poultry flocks need some attention
during the hot weather. We cannos,
like the old farmer, allow the birds
to go where they will. roost out in
the trees and pick up their own liY-
ing and. in spite of all, look for 4
profit. The hen has a thick coat OF
feathers. She is particularly likely to
suffer from heat during the summer
unless provision is made for her
comfort Hens cannot be expected 70
lay we'll If they are not comforta BILE,
neither will the pullets develop pro
perly unless they have quarters that
are light and pleasant.
First. take up the question Of the
laying flock. 1t is advisable to open
both sides of the houses and allow
the air to draw thru during the
warm weather. This does not pro
duce a draft that will be harmful.
Birds usually spend about three
months of the summer outside. This
is not only conducive to good health
but INDUCES heavier laying. Hens
housed in warm buildings cannot be
comfortable in warm weather, so he
sure and open the windows on the
north side Of the laying mouse and
let the breezes blow thru
Iit same tHLuE may De S6lu Ol
brooder houses. where the growing
pullets spend the nights. Open all
the windows there are and leave tne
doors wide. Also, see that the birds
so to roost at an early age They
cannot be comfortable on the floor
huddled closely together Put up
some kind of roosts as soon as the
birds are large enough. which should
be by the time they are two months
old
insect pests increase and multiply
much more rapidly in warm than in
cold weather. Lice will do q lot OF
harm If not checked. One or two
treatments a year should keep the
pests in check. Il is no simple task.
however. TO give individual treatment
to large flock of hens The birds
VIII do 1t themselves if they are pro-
Nlded with busting boxes, that is
they viii keep the pests so checked
that they will do little HARM When
bullets or hens are removed from one
house to another. and when housed
in the fall, each bird should have
sprinkling of powder or pinch Of
ointment. Pullets should not be
troubled with lice if old stock is
kept away from them
The red mite, which lives in tie
houses and not upon the bodies of
It's victims. is a more serious menace
tnan lice. The birds have no way bv
which they can rid themselves of the
pests. At night they crawl out OF the
cracks and joints of the building and
fes st upon 1he lifeebIood of the hens.
Ola houses are often infested with
this worst of insect pests. SPRAYING
with a codl-oil or carbolic prepara-
tlon VIII destroy these pests. Be sure
the spray material reaches all hiding
places. Usually two sprayings dur
ing the early part of the summer
VIII prove sufficient. One should fol-
low the other in about a week The
nrst may take all of the insects but
not destroy the eggs, SO the second
spraying must follow to disnose IF
those that hatch out later. Some
times a building will become ca
badly infested that third and ever
aourth spraying Will be necessary.
rms pest is very persistent. A build
ing may not be used for poultry for
Years then. when poultry are put in
the hllte VIII appear. 1t seems evil
uelit that The eggs or insects will re-
main dormant for "a long time aud
then suddenly begin to multiply when
the needed most appears. Oil. drawn
from the crank case of the auto. is
e11ectlVe for this pest when painted
on the roosts and about the quarters
Cleanliness is even more important
IN summer than in the colder weatn-
er. Frequent cleanings are lust as
necessary in summer as at any time
Ihe house where the growing null
lets are sheltered should not be neg
lecteo. In summer. the chick drop
pings dry out and form a fine now
der. This powder is breathed into
the nostrils of the birds and may
cause considerable trouble. The
chlcken house should be cleaned at
least as often as once a week. Chicks
should never be housed in small
coops after the weather becomes hot
Many chick ailments develop in tho
coops. The troubles may not be an
parent at once but they are sure to
crop out later. Remember the birds
are growing all the time and before
you realize it the quarters may be-
come u small for the flock.
Shadscis important in summer. You