The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-04-25
SOME FARM TOPICS,
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR TIL
LERS OF THE SOIL.
Profitable Poultry Raisinx-MOney
I'm Rare CrOps-Creameries Exempt
From the Tax-Slopping Cows
Down on the Fam.

10 make poultry raising profitable,
in the first place, build the poultry
house where the cold winds Of winter
will not strike it. Select the sunniest
place possible, high and dry, where
! barns and other out buildings will
| protect it. Have it as convenient as
practicable to the dwelling, for fowls
need more attention than any kind Of
stock during bad weather, especially
in winter They then need a warm
house, good feed and plenty Of fresh
water. i. :
In order to keep the house warm
batten every crack and bank up about
the bottom. For banking drive stakes
! about eight inches from the outside
of the wall. Place old boards inside
of these. Some distance from the
stakes dig trench and throw the
earth between the boards and the wall
until a solid bank of soil two feet
high and eight inches is formed all
around the chicken house, except at
the door. This will keep the floor
warm and prevent all draughts. This
is an important item, as the fowls are
on the floor most Of the time during
the day.
Every farmer should have at least
twenty-five chickens, twenty-four hens
and q rooster. For these a house
1OX14 feet and 7 feet high under the
caves is sufficient for both summer
and winter. For the frame use 2X4
scantling; cover these on the outside
with matched or ordinary smooth
boards and battens. For the roof use
good shingles. All the lumber should
be smooth on both sides. You can
and whitewash the inside.
Some professionals heat their poul-
try houses with a stove during the
coolest days, but this is expensive
and requires careful manipulation. If
the fire gets low OF goes out the fowls
are apt to take cold and have the
| roup. If the climate is very cold,
sheathe the inside of the house and
| pack the space between the outer and
inner walls with sawdust. Here the
harder breeds, such as Plymouth
Rocks, Wyandottes, Brahmas. etc,
will do we'll without artificial heat.
| They will lay in winter. Where the
thermometer seldom goes lower than
| 8 or 10 degrees below zero q lining Of
| tarred paper is usually sufficient.
Never choose a tender, large-cOmbed
| variety of chickens if you live in a
| cold climate.
Provide large windows for the south
| side of the house. For twenty-five
fowls place three roost poles across
| one end. Let them rest on a strip of
| board nailed to the wall two feet
| from the floor. "A piece of one-inch
board two inches wide. with rounded
| edges, will answer. Place the first of
these one foot from the wall and the
others one and half feet apart
These can be removed when the house
is being cleaned.
Six nests ten inches square. two feet
from the floor and on the end opposite
the roosts, will provide sufficient room
for laying. Never place them on the
floor of the house. Have a solid parti-
ton between each. so that the hens
cannot fight. Line with soft straw
| never hay. Clean out four times a
year and burn the old material Nests
used for setting hens must be cleaned
| before putting in the eggs and after
the chickens are Matched. 1t is Il good
| plan to sprinkle a little, sulphur in the
| bottom Of each nest, as there is where
| lice usually start.
Clean out from under the roosts at
| least once a week. sweeping the whole
! house clean. A little land plaster
| about prevents bad odors, adds to the
| value of the manure and keeps the
| floor from rotting. The floor should
| be six inches above the ground. made
| of dressed and matched lumber. The
| ground beneath it must be we'll drain
| ed so no water will stand near the
| house.