The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-09
General Management Of Fowls.

Fowls should not DO kept, says Mr..
Wright, unless proper and regular at
tention can be given to them; and we
would strongly urge that this needful
attention should be personal. Our own
experience has taught us that domes-
tics are rarely to be relied upon in
and the well-being of the stock; and, if
any objection be made on the score of
dignity, we could not only point to
high born ladies who do not think it
beneath them to attend to their own
fowls, but can aver that even the most
mental Offices can be performed in any
roperly-constructed fowl-house with
out so much as soiling the fingers. If
there be children in the family old
enough to undertake such matters. they
will be both pleased and benefited by at
tending to what will soon become their
pets; If not, the owner must either at
tend to them himself, or take such
oversight as shall be effectual in secur-
ing not only proper care of his birds,
but of his own meal and grain. If he
be unable or unwilling to do at least as
much as this, he had far better not
engage in such an undertaking at all.
The first essential requisite to success
in poultry-keeping is thoroughly good
house for the birds to roost and lay in.
This does not necessarily imply large
one or costly. We once knew a young
man who kept fowls most protitably,
with only house of his own construc-
ton not more than three feet square,
and run of the same width, under
twelve feet long. 1t means simply that
the fowl house must combine two abso-
lutte essentials-be both perfectly wealth
erproof, and well ventilated.
With regard to the first point, it is
not only necessary to keep out the rain
but also the wind-a matter very sell
dom attended to as it ought to be, but
which has great influence on the health
and laying of the inmates. The cheap
est material is wood, of which an inch
thick will answer very well in any or
binary English climate; but if so built,
the boards must either be tongued to-
gether. or all the cracks between them
carefully caulked by driving in string
with blunt chisel. Care should also
be taken that the door fits well, admit
ting no air except under the bottom;
and, in short, every precaution taken to
prevent draft. The hole by which the
fowls enter, even when its loose trap
door is closed, should admit enough air
to supply the inmates, and the object is
| to have but this one source of supply,
and to keep the fowls out of all direct
| draft from it. For the roof, tiles alone
are not sufficient, and if employed at
all, there should be either boarding or
ceiling under them; otherwise all the
heat will escape through the numerous
interstices, and in winter it will be i'm
possible to keep the house warm.
Planks alone make a good roofing.
They may either be laid horizontally,
one plank overlapping the other, and
the whole well tarred two or three times
first of all, and every autumn after
ward; or perpendicularly fitting close
edge to edge, and tarred, then covered
with large sheets of brown paper, which
should receive two coats of tar more.
This last makes q very smooth, wealth
erproof and durable roofing, which
throws off the water well. But, on the
whole, we prefer board covered with
patent felt, which should be tarred once
year.
In the north of England, ahouse built
Of wood, unless artificially warmed, re-
quires some sort of lining. Mating is
warmth, but unfortunately makes a
capital harbor for vermin. If employed
at all, it should only be slightly affixed
to the walls, and at frequent intervals
be removed and well beaten. Felt is
she best material, the strong smell of
tar repeIing most insects from taking
up their residence therein. If tight
brick shed offers, it will, of course, be
secured for the poultry habitation. But
let all dilapidations be well repaired.
Ventilation is scarcely ever provided
for as it should be, and the want of it is
fruitful source of failure and disease.
All ill-yentilated lighthouses must cause
sickly inmates; and such will never re-
pay the proprietor. This great desider-
alum must, however, as already OBJ
| served, be secured without exposing the
/ fowls to any direct draft; and for the
ordinary detsched fowl-house, the best
plan is to have an opening at the high
est point of the roof, surmounted by
''lantern" of boards, put together in
the well-known fashion of Venetian
| blinds.
A south or southeast aspect is desira-
BILE, where it can be had; and to have
the house at the back either of fire
place or stable is great advantage in
winter; but we have proved by long eX-
| perience that both can be successfully
dispensed with if only the two essentials
are combined, of good ventilation with
perfect shelter.
We do not approve of too large a
house. For half a dozen fowls a very
good size is five feet square and sloping
from six to eight feet high. The nests
may then be placed on the ground at
the back, where any eggs can be readily
seen; and one perch will roost all the
birds. This perch, unless the breed
kept is small, had better not be more
than eight inches in diameter. A
rough pole with the bark on answers
best; the claws cling to it nicely, and
bark is not so hard as planned wood. By
far the greater number of perches are
much too high and small; the one fault
causing heavy fowls to lame themselves
in flying down, and the other producing
deformed breastbones in the chickens
an occurrence disgraceful to any poul-
try-yard. The air at the top of any
room or house is, moreover, much more
impure than that nearer the floor
Poultry Journal.
Cows Chewing Bones.