American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-10-19

deem expedient. When the hen
comes off with the chickens, she is
suffered to ramble about exposing
the young brood to cold and wet,
which thus thins off rapidly; no suit
able accommodations are provided
for their roosting-plaees, and they
are allowed to find a place to roost
where they can, probacly in somo ex-
posed situation in tree or shed no
attention is given to feeding them
and under such circumstances, it is
not to be wondered at that few or no
eggs produced, that few or DO chick
ems are raised, or that fowls are sick
ly or improbable.
When with so little expense to
himself, a farmer may have an abun-
dant.supply Of eggs and raise one or
two hundred chickens, it seems
strange that the poultry business
should be so little attended to by the
owners of the soil. Where crops
are sown Immediately around the
barns, it may be inconyenient to have
fowls run at large but in many cas-
es fifty or hundred of these birds
may be kept, not only without injury
but with benefit. There are general
ly large quantities of grain scatter
ed in the barn-yards and lost unless
eaten by the fowls; there are myri-
ads Of insects, such as flies, bugs,
worms, grasshopper8, etc, which re-
quire to have their numbers dimin-
ished by the cock and his followers; !;
and if constantly kept up and fed
experience shows that for the amount
Of capital invested, the poultry con-
tributes, in proportion, as great re-
turn as any part Of the farm.
Now for the fowl house. If you
have room in your stable or barn, a
room partition off these will do. IIay-
ing built the partition, all the cracks
should be battcned up to make itwarm.
1t should have good sized windows,
front to the south, if possible, and
it should be we'll white-washcd, both
for neatncss and to make it lighter.
Then divide it into two apartments ;
one to be used for the roosting-room,
the other for their occupation during
the day. The day room should be
furnished with gravel, old lime NOR
ter, and such other materials to as
sist in making the shells to their eggs.
Also sand and ashes which are put
into shallow boxes so that the room
may not be made untidy. Or if you
have basement under your barn,
partly under ground, but light, will
answer good purpose.
A poultry house need not be ex-
pensiye, and yet be as good for the
farmer as one with fine finish. OF
whatever shape it is better to have il
too small than too large, in winter
especially. For if too large the hens
get together in one corner in order
70 keep themselves warm. While il
Of the right size, they can promenade
as much as they please, and have the
proper amount of exercise. We OF.
fer the following plan, which a handy
farmer with the necessary tools car
erect himself. The building is de
signed to be 10 feet high in front
and 1 feet in the rear, - feet long
The length may be greater or les;
according to the number of fowls tc
be accommodated. The above di
mensions are large enough for twenty
or thirty fowls. The materials fol
rear and ends may be frame, brick OF
stone. The south slope of a bank
viii be a good location,as warmth i;
an important point to be gained
The best material for roof is straw
thatch this is warm in winter and
cool in summer. IF the roof is oi
boards, the space between the rafter:
should be fill with dry tan or sawdust
That part of the building above
ground should be banked up witf
horse manure some three or four feet
hingh. This VIII prevent water water
from freozing-the higest tempera.
turo attained without artificial heat.
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