The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-03-18
Poultry Raising-No. 2.
Editor Of The Florida Argiculrist:

Editor Of The Florida Argiculturist:
NEST BOXES
should be twelve inches square for all
breeds except Cochins and Brahmas,
which should be at least fourteen inches
square. We use six in row, made of
one-half inch lumber, over which is a
drop-board placed under the roosts to
catch the droppings. At the back and
two ends of the nest-boxes there is q
small space through which the hens pass
and enter the nests from the rear where
it is always dark. The nest-boxes are
placed along the north side of the houses
which is boarded tightly to protect the
fowls from the cold north winds So,
then, the hens are in the dark and CON
sequently follow natures plan which
is generally to "steal' their nests The
boxes are entered by the keeper through
swinging door on hinges, made of
board from the outside or inside of the
house. We use the inside board, then
we have no passage way to reach across
III gathering the eggs, and only have to
use one lock to the house, on the main
door; whereas if the nests were entered
from the outside it would be necessary
to have it locked, or lose few eggs and
hens occasionally.
FEEDING VESSELS
containing water, which should be
changed three times day, are always
kept in each house, also plenty of ground
bone and shells. We use for water yes
sells a common wooden pail with the
slaves cut down for about four inches on
one side and about two on the other.
Then no dust, dirt, etc., can get into the
water to make it unhealthy, and they
are very easily cleaned. OF course such
vessel would not do for little chicks.
In your last issue | wrote about a
poultry house, roosts, etc., and now Of
nests. Such a house complete would not
cost over six dollars and is fully large
enough to hold twenty-five fowls, which
is all anyone ever ought to keep together,
If he expects to have his fowls healthy
and in vigorous condition.
Dry food should be. thrown. on the
ground, among brush, straw, etc., so that
the fowls will have to scratch for it
their natural method of feeding. Mush
and all cooked food should be fed on
broad fiat board, and not in trough as
particles are liable to get in the corners
and sour which is very dangerous for
chickens, especially young chicks, giving
ehSiiA NAe.ll hOO" ouu OlbCh ElOuuClHS
death. When
BUYING FOWLS
be sure to select fowls that will grow and
thrive we'll in this climate. From actual
experience l only know of four breeds
that do well here, viz: Wyandotts,
Plymouth Rocks, and White and Brown
Leghorns. There are others l have
heard do equally well. 1t is just as
easy to raise pure bred fowls as it is
to raise mongrels. The pure breed lay
more and larger eggs and are very much
superior in looks to the mongrel and
fully repay the buyer for paying a little
more for them. So always be sure you
are buying first class article with no
disqualifcations. Should l explain
the disqualitications and good points of
our different breeds it would take up a
whole page of the AGRIcULTURIsT, so II
would advise all who contemplate buying
fowls to purchase the "America1a Stand
ard of ErcellGnce," and read up on
the fifty-two varieties of pure bred fowls.
If any one will write me, enclosing stamp,
concerning any one breed, / will cheer
fully answer, either through the AGRI-
CULTURIsT or by personal letter.
Next week | will continue about feed
ing fowls and chicks, requisite amounts
of land room per head, yards, runs, ETC.
E. S. RICHARDSON.
Florida Poultry Yard, DeLand, Fla.