The daily sentinel., 1908-04-29
TO RAISE
CHICKENS

The writer recently made trip TO
Colorado Springs, Colo, for the pur-
pose of securing modern poultry
house plans and methods. Many good
ideas were obtained in regard to
them which may be of interest to
various poultry raisers of Colorado.
The successful raisers of this sec
tion are practically agreed that their
houses must be so constructed as to
be warm, prevent draughts, and at
the same time, be well ventilated
The majority of these houses face the
south. The north side and ends have
no openings, excepting occasionally
n door. The walls and roofs are of
double construction, either double
boarded or single boarded and pa
pered. All openings are on the south
here are, usually found all windows.
In many cases large openings are
made on the south side, which are
covered with burlap or heavy muslin,
through which the air passes with
out producing draughts. The muslin
or burlap keeps out the cold and at
the same time freely ventilates the
house and also let's in the light.
In some houses. muslin curtains
are provided which may be let down
just in front of the roosts during cold
nights. This places the hens in close
quarters, helps them to hold the heat
in around them and admits fresh air.
All roosts are placed over dropping
boards and are so constructed as to
be easily and quickly removed to ia
cilitate cleaning.
Nests are placed under the drop
ping boards with the open side to
the rear, this makes them somewhat
dark and prevents egg eating. The
majority of the houses were provided
with scratching sheds in which a
few inches of straw was placed: the
grain feeds were mixed with this
straw. thus causing the hens to ex-
ercise to secure it.
FEEDS.
For Chicks-Special prepared
chick foods for the first ten days.
Afterwards, mixture of about equal
parts of cornmeal, cracked wheat,
meat meal or blood meal, charcoal,
fine gravel, and sometimes sifted
oatmeal
For Hcns-MiXed grains-wheat,
barley. cracked corn sometimes kaf-
fir corn) and oats.
Mash for Hens-Usually fed once
per day-bran, cornmeal. oats Cor
oatmeaD a small amount of beef
scrap or dried blood, charcoal, and
either alfalfa leaves or cut alfalfa.
They keep plenty of oyster shell and
gravel before the hens all the time,
also fresh water
General Remarks.
These breeders are Matching about
So per cent. of all fertile eggs. The
secret of good matches seems to be
sufficient moisture, good ventilation
and plenty of heat.
The secrets of securing fertile eggs
are good care. feeding plenty OF
green bone, oyster shell. or meat
scrap and not running too many hens
with one cock.
These poultry raisers are securing
daily about 60 per cent as many eggs
as hens kept.
One breeder, Mr.. r. C. Clay. claims
to have enough space for keeping
1000 hens and he occupies but about
two acres.
And her poultryman occupies two
city lots and successfully handles 500
laying hens.
A squad raiser is handling 1900
pigeons and raises from 100 to 120
squads per week on a space equal to
the size of one city lot. Crowding
too many birds on small space can
not be safely recommended. however.
Two of these poultry plants stamp
all eggs sold for table purpose with
their names and do mot keep any on
hand longer than three days.
The writer will be pleased to hear
from all successful poultry raisers in
the state. telling of their houses and
methods. Kindly send plan of house,
if possible.
H. NJ. Banner,
Professor of Farm Mechanics, Colo
RADIO Agricultural College, FIT. Col