The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1908-01-25
HAVE COMFORTABLE PERCHEs o YOUR
HENS.

HAVE COMFORTABLE FOR YOUR
HENS.
While the hen gets of her roost at an early
hour in the morning. she also goes back to roost
at an early hour in the evening. On the whole.
she spends a good part OF her life on the roost:
and the more comfort she gets out OF this COM
paratiyely large roosting part OF her life. the bet
ter will she feel when she In on the roost
Since mites breed so much faster on roosts that
are rough. II Is economy to get planed lumber
and round of the corners for ut least half an inch
from the edge. Many good poultrymen claim that
fewer birds will suffer from corns In the bottom
OF their feet II the scantling In turned over. 80
that the widest aide of the two by four 10 up.
still more claim that n wide roost like this will
tend TO avoid crooked brcast-boncs. frequently
caused by the yielding brcast-boncs OF youns
birds resting on a sharp perch. II ono does not
feel like buying two by tours. he can get poles
out of the woods and peel them. so that they will
be too smooth for mites to nnd many good breed
ing places on them. These poles may DO from
two TO four inchcs through.
The arrangement, OF tho yoos,s also largely In
Gucnccs The comfort Of tho birds. We not infrc-
aucn,ly soc them placed no that tho ono Ia front
il lower than the o,hcrs. while those farther back
are each higher than tho ono just In front OF II.
|, accus that our don,ca,ic fowls that arc given
TO roosiinE on pcrcaca. In spite OF all tho changes
they have andcs gone. have not los, their dcassc
10 got 20 high from tho ground that enemies of
the tour footed kind caaao, jump up and grab
them Oh II. perch. aud they all ~aas 10 be- on the
top perch. II all tho pcroh~s arc not on tho same
level. tho whole flock aili want 10 DO nj the top.
Those that go 10 .ouas aEa, GET on tho top perch.
and succeeding ones sry TO crowd themselves up
~ith them. maybe ~ on their backs. 4 sssug.
ge takes place that should DO avoided. Have
,our pcseh~s on a level. or have enough top
pc.chra tor ali the aucG.
The pcYchcs should no, DO near doo.a or any
other openings that would cause drafts to strike
the fo~la IL 10 alao \ bad Idea To have a porch
very ciosc Ia the aide os = building. siaco In cold
weather the cold ~all usakca a bird colder on onr
siao than on Tho other. Uneven heating or cool.
Ing of tho body 10 always detrimental. Mere
coldn~sa In dry quarters IL not very serious. u II
IN equally cold In all directions: ba, coldncss In
nnc spot bsccds trouble "a fast an a rough perch
ali! breed m!tcs.
resch~a high from The ground arc undesirable.
When tho hon tries 10 ~ down from a high perch
In a house. tho walls OF tho building do no, 10,
her ~ out far enough 10 lot herself down lightly.
and she must jump down. Experienced poultry.
men aay thia bruises tho bottom of her trrs and
tends TO develop corns there. or may break tho
shcll o! an nniaid esk. a mishap ,ha, may prove
very serious. poasibly causing tho death OF the
hen without anybody suspccting what the trouble
IL. Three and a half !cc, II no, a bad hcigh, for
pcrehcs In n building. II tho building In ANAL.
reduce tho height. II IL 10 fcit that lo~ p,Ychcs
will make II iaconscniun, TO clean GU, tho build
Ing. arrange them 80 that thoy can hc pushed on,
OF the way.