The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-18
LOUIS O., C0WAN, Editor and Proprietor

each end, and two small windows in 'front.'
all furnished with fixed slat blinds, 50 that
the sashes can be taken out in hot weather.
.. and the room well ventilated. A scut,le OF
!. false chimney in the middle Of the roof, with
a valve, will afford q good additional facility
for ventilation. There must also be door,
where il will be most convenient for the
keeper, and one or more PORTFOLIOS, for the
fowls TO 20 in AMI out at.
For the internal arrangement, put up a
sufficient number Of roost poles, Of the size
Of a mans wrist, and made firm and steady,
and high enough from the aoor to allow .
person to pass under and to assist the hens
in getting up, have one or more narrow
board ladders, leading from the ground to the
roost poles. The style Of the nest boxes
must be determined by the kind Of fowls
for which they are designed. If the large
Chinese varieties. the boxes must DO made
low and very easy Of access, 50 that the hens
will not be obliged to ay up to get in.-
They should be shallow, so that the hens
need not hop down from the rim, as in that
case they are liable to break the eggs. They
must also be open to view, as these fowls do
not require so much privacy as many other
kinds. Fowls which are more particular in
their habits, may require the entrance to
the nests to be partially concealed, so that
the keeper in passing will not annoy the
hens during the process of laying or sitting.
The nest boxes may be made stationary or
movable, it makes but little difference which.
For large fowls, the boxes should be some
Is icnhes in diamater each way, and 8 or 10
inches deep, with the front cut partly out,
to allow Of easy access. For smaller hens,
ten inches will do and for such as are in
clned to be wild, let the entrance to the
box be from the back side, with a high
front-say two feet to serve practical
screen from observation. Then little soft
straw in each box completes the fixtures for
this business.
The whole inside Of the henery ,h,uld be
whitc-washed twice in the year, and the
roost poles brushed over occasionally with
fish oil, to make them distasteful to vermin.
The floor should also be sprinkled over once
in while with fresh wood ashes or Stacked
lime. This, together with dr. ppings from
the roOsts, should be swept out every few
weeks, and the floor sprinkled anew. These
swcepings will form choice manure for
vines, and other garden purposes. If it is
desired to keep several different breeds Of
fowls, that should not run together, it can
be done by having lattice partitions in the
hen house and also in the yard, to prevent
their mixiug. Outside Of the building, the
fowls should have access to fresh water, and
also suitable number of wallowing beds,
made by placing low trOughs or boxes, part
ly filed with fine ashes, sand, &c. The
frequent resort to these will destroy and pre-
vent vermin.
Feeding, the fowls thus confined, must be
regularly and carefully attended to. Those
with young chicks should be fed three times
'!ay, and in such quantities as they will
deyour without waste, or leaving any
Change or vary the feed often. For young
chicks, dough or Indian meal scalded and
seasoned with little salt, and also curdled
milk, will be found a good staple feed.
Boiled potatoes mashed, with whole grains
Of wheat, barley, corn, oats, &C., will form
a good alternate for the flock at large.
Raw potatoes and onions, chopped fine, and
also dust Of Cayenne paper IN the dough,
will keep OF many diseases and pets, and
make the hens lay well. Burnt oyster
shells and bones, pounded fine, should also
be within their reach at oil times.