Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 213, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1919 — TEACHING THE CHICKS TO ROOST [ARTICLE]

TEACHING THE CHICKS TO ROOST

Where a large number of chicks are being raised in one brooder house difficulty is often experienced in preventing the birds from piling up at night after the heat is removed, and causing serious losses, says T. S. Townsley of the University of Missouri college of To prevent this overcrowding the birds should be taught to roost as early as possible. If roosts are made out of 1 by 3-inch strips placed 12 to 15 inches from the floor, the birds can easily she taught to go to roost If the chicks do not go up on the roost of their own accord they should be gently placed on the roosts after dark for one or two nights until they get the roosting habit. H Look Out for Mites. —This season of the year a constant lookout should be Icept by all poultry keepers for mites In the houses and coops. A mite is very small and difficult to see unless special search is made. They appear as minute, gray or reddish specks. When present in large numbers, the mites Jiave the appearance of dust. Mites reproduce very rapidly and are a great source of annoyance to the hens when present in large numbers. The mites live by sucking blood from the hens. A severe attack of mites will cause the hens to lose flesh and stop laying, and -will oftentimes produce death. To get rid of mites the houses must be carefully cleaned and then painted or sprayed with repellent material. A heavy spraying with coal oil followed In two or three days by giving the roosts and surrounding boards a thorough painting with crude oil will clean up the mites and keep the houses-free for several months. This treatment should be applied twice yearly to all poultry houses as a precautionary measure against mites.