The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1906-01-31


studied, watched and carefully at
tended too the same as i'm any other
business and you must take pleasure
in doing these little things or better
not start in the squad business at all.
| Possibly this sounds diScOuraging
but it is nevertheless a fact that must
not be overlooked Now on the other
hand, if after years trial you like
the work and the birds, you can and
will see a profit, then increase and
you will not regret it. 1t is not real
hard work, but it is a pleasure to us
because we like it.
| We receive many inquiries as how
to build, size of flies, how to keep
record or distinguish the birds, how,
what and when to feed, methods of
watering and to recommend a good
book on the subject; so we have con-
cluded to make this article cover
some of these points for the benefit
of all the readers of Poultry.
In doing this we can only give some
Of our own methods, while they will
not suit all breeds or localities we
find to do the best for us in breeding
the straight Homers
1t is not necessary to have eX-
pensive buildings. AS a trial house
most any building or part of a barn
partiOned off will do, with window
or door to the south preferred. The
fly which should be built So as to al
low birds to get to the ground, is of
a skeleton wood frame covered with
poultry wire.
For fifty pair of birds we have ours
eight feet wide, "a feet long and nine
feet high. Anywhere from twenty to
thirty feet long is good size, but
of course it may have to be built to
suit condition.
Some writers claim that birds |
should have their liberty, but we can
not see how they can keep in touch |
with their birds where used for |
squabbing purposes. We also believe
that liberal fly room is sufficient and |
will not reduce productiveness.
Our houses are on the continuous
plan twelve feet wide, feet high on !
sides, roof three or four feet higher
at centre, good tight floor and raised
from ground six to twelve inches. In
side it is divided into pens with solid
board partitions seven feet high from
floor, above this wire netting separates
the pens. This makes pens eight feet
by nine feet The alley way side of
pen is covered with poultry wire net
ting with thirty inch by five feet
door on spring hinges. Each pen has
two by six lengths of eight by ten
sash which slide sideways. These are
open nearly all the time except in
severe or stormy weather. The nests
are OH each side against the partitions
and vertical twelve inch boards are
fastened to same twelve inches apart.
These are provided with cleats every
ten to twelve inches and bottom or
slide board makes the nest. This
bottom is left loose so as to be easily
removed and cleaned.
These pens accommodate fifty pairs
of mated birds. We have a record
book for each pen and as all birds are
banded we make entries in columns
marked when placing the mated pairs
in the pens for color, markings, letter, ;
of band, sex and date. By
this means if a bird gets sick, hurt {
or dies we can readily refer and find
its mate and it is very little trouble
to pick out the odd bird and place in
another pen for remating. |,
There must not be any odd birds :
of either sex in a working pen if you :
want the best results, and without !
some such record you can readily see ,
that it would be hard work to find the q