Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-04-24
Qbe stu,nton pinoieator.
FARM AND FlRESiDE.
ADVERTISING RATES

PoULTRY BREEDING.-A. M. Halsted,
Of Rye, n. Y, under date of March 8,
writes to The Maryland Farmer: The
question of houses and yards OF runs, is
one that discourages many would-be fam
ciers. They have an idea that a certain
expenditure of money must be made, and
the great problem with them is how to ex-
pend it. The fact is that the simpler the
house and yards, provided only that 1t
shelters the fowls from the storms, the
better the general health Of the flock and
the more satisfactory the result.
A simple lean-to, against barn or other
out-building, with a window i'll the south
or east side, OF little peaked-roof house
that one can place on wheelbarrow and
move around at pleasure is all that is
necessary when but one variety is bred,
and even when several breeds are kept
and the fancier has abundance of land,
these small houses, scattered about tie
place in different fields, far enough from
each other to prevent any mishaps, are
very conducive to health and success
Where the room is limited, Il house divided
into compartments opening into separate
yards Or runs will be necessary.
The simpler such a house the better, and
I know of no more convenient arrange
ment than the one l have now in use in
own ward. This is forty feet long by
eleven feet wide; nine feet high ilf front
and six and one-half at the back. An al
ley-way OF passage four feet wide extends
the whole length of the house on the back
side. The space between this and the
front may be divided into five rooms, each
eight feet wide; the centre one being used
for setting room, or for penning surplus
cocks. Doors open from the passage into
these rooms. The front of each room is
lighted by a large window six feet square,
composed of two sashes, the upper sash be-
ing hinged on the lower side and opening
inward, at intervals along the back, just
under the caves, ARE grated openings which
are provided with shutters so as to be
closed in cold weather. This allows per-
feet ventilation, and yet no draft on the
fowls. The door OF doors are at each end
opening into the passage-way. This build
ing will accommodate four kinds Of fowls,
forty Of each variety provided the yards
are large enough. My yards are each one
quarter of an acre in size, with few ever
greens and fruit trees dotted here and
there around them.
The advantages of house Of this style
are, that it is cheap to construct, very con-
Venient, and can be made as large or as
small as may be desired. 1t can be built
ten feet long, divided into two rooms, one
for the fowls and the other for setting
hens, and extended to any desired length
to accommodate more fowls and other
varieties.
Another style Of house much in favor
with some breeders is to reverse the slant
Of the roof making the front-which should
face southeast OF south, if possible-about
one and one-half feet high, and the back a.
bout eight feet high, the windows being
madeslike hot-bed sashes and placed in the
roof. This house smuch cheaper built than
the preceding but is apt.to be hot and close
under the midday sun and does not admit
Of as good ventilation as the former.
gThe perches for the fowls l prefer to
have movable. Take four pieces of wall
strip OF joist, each eighteen inches long,
for the legs. On each pair of these nail
piece of Turing OF fence strip four and
one-half feet long, placing the legs about
nine inches from the ends across these
nail the perches, four in number, and four,
= Foo
and the number Of fowls to be accommo-
dated. These can be taken up and moved
around at will, and greatly expedite the
work Of cleaning. When perches are con-
structed upon an incline-one above the
other-the fowls are always striving for
the highest roost but by the above az
rangement, there is no choice and conse-
quently no croWding or fighting. l have
used board floors for fifteen years, and as
yet see no reason to condemn them.
The arrangements Of the yards mus. be
governed by the formation and location of
the land. If there is room only for runs,
it will necessitate little more attention
to, and care Of the fowls, for when in linn
tied space they should daily have a little
green fruit of some kind, and the ground
should be occasionally turned over with
spade OF fork to remove any sourness or
foulness accommodating on it. A run six
feet wide and twenty feet long, will, with
ordinary care, be large enough for cock
and five hens. The fences of these runs
may be of wire or lath, the height will de-
pend upon the variety Of fowls kept. The
require only three OF four feet fence,
while the Hamburghs. Spanish, Games,
Leghorns and some other kinds, needs one
six to seven feet high.