Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-02-27
FARM AND FIRESIDE.
Doe, Poultry Pay. : Nc. 2.
BY HENRY HALES.

keep the birds in good health, food,
cleanliness, and care, must be more
liberal in proportion to the extent of
any encroachment made on the required
space. The next question thai comes
up is, 'lfa person wants to keep
large number, how can it be done with
profit 2" BY building more houses, which
should be detached, and large yards
that will keep in grass but under no
circumstances whatever, should more
than one hundred birds be kept in one
yard. Each Of such yards should con-
tain rot less than half an acre to an
acre. Yards of this kind can be
multiplied indefinitely If properly kept.
This necessity for keeping only one
hundred fowls, at most, together in one
building and yard, seems to be great
stumbling-block 10 inexperienced poul-
try keepers. They will disregard this
rule, in spite Of the warning and advice
so often given by many experienced
persons. Yet how much money and
yexation might be spared by adhering
TO this rule so often broken. The need
of it can be very readily seen on look
ing into an over-crowded poultry house.
The hens quarrel for favorite nest at
one time, breaking the eggs, and soiling
the nests. Then, there are certain
parts Of the roost that are the favorite
spots, for which there is always some
contention. Again, IN feeding, if the
crowd is too great, the strongest and
bolSest birds get ahead of the smaller
and weaker chickens, or even trample
them under-foot. These are indeed,
sometimes so afraid Of their stronger
companions that they will half starve
rather than come to the front for TODD
etc. This is the way in which some
will get in i'll condition and sickly.
Then, there is the sanitary condition
OF large number to be considered. All
animals throw of great deal of waste
matter, not only through their digestive
channels, but from their skins, and, in
all feathered tribes, from their feathers.
All people who handle poultry, game
and water-fowls, know that the smell
from THEN feathers alone is not pleasant.
II any room containing only a small
number OF fowls, is closed up tightly,
even for one night, the strength Of the
o1or would astonish any one opening
the door in the morning. This shows
tle great importance OF ventilation.
especially as fowls-as well as all
teathered Administrative air cells run
ming through their eatire systems, some
naturalists says even through their
feathers. This renders them very sus-
ceptlble Of contagious or infectious dis
eases, more so than any other domestic
animal. For this reason, sanitary laws
must be insisted on. A few fowls may
be kept with but little care, but in
crease the number, and cares will multi
ply at greater ratio than the Birds
Yet it will pay to give this attention, if
done regularly.
Another thing that requires consider
alton is the material used in the con-
struction Of house. This depends
partly on the locality. Where stone is
plentiful, it makes the best kind OF
OF houses; so does concrete, and both
save plasterng inside. Where wood is
cheap, good house can be built of it.
But never have much wood good deal
exposed in the inside Of the house, as
1t harbors vermin and also causes dis
eases from the peculiar smell that
emanates from woodwork in a building
long in use. Whitewash is some assis-
lance in remeding this trouble; but it is
not sufficient. AS IN the case of
greenhouse, iumigation alone will prove
a ce.tein remedy, aud make clean and
sweet house. Apoultry house of any
large size, should be always plsstered
inside, SO that there Is but little room
Tor the lodgment Of vermin or disease,
and it can be made tight at the doors,
windows, and vent:lators, with little
trouble.
When it is desired to fumigate it
Which should be done three or four
times q year-it need cause very
little trouble. Take a small charcoal
furnace; put on q handful of tobacco
siems-which are almost given away at
segar ENTHUSIASTICALLY mOistened, then
set fire to them at the bottom with a
piece OF paper or shavings, till they
smoke freely, then lay on about quarter
TO half a pouno of common sulphur,
close up for two hours. The fowls
shonld be left in before the house is
entirely clear; but care should be taken
not to let them in too soon, otherwise
they may be suficated. Some may
think that TO follow these directions
would be expensive. 1t is rather so,
but any other course will only end in
total wreck after a few years. Fowls
will do well sometimes for a year or
two in a new place with much disregard
sfthese rules, but after many years.
experience, and after having seen many
failures, this conclusion fO:ces itself
upon all who continue the business.
One will say, viii it pay 10 take this
trouble" Tie expense incurred in
bestowing this care, and taking these
precautions is less than would be the
loss caused by disease suddenly sweep
inc of all vour eiOck and lsavino vour