Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-07-13

Something is being learned each year
in the poultry business which would
seem to be a step in advance, and to a
certain extent to overthrow theories
long held. / have convinced myself
that the old rule of five to six square
feet of floor space hen is not only not
necessary but may actually be detri-
mental in cold latitudes.
This winter / have 222 pullets of
American breeds, 10 in house 20 by
80 feet, with six males, and so in house
10 BY 20 feet, with five males, or total
of 233 grown birds to floor space of
500 square feet, or 3.4 square feet bird.
These birds were housed the fore part
of November, and are confined to the
houses all the time. No scratching
sheds or yards.
got the first egg on November from
a ben that was put into the house from
free range the previous day, and they
gained steadily from that day, until now
have reached eighty-five eggs a day.
They paid feed bill of over $50 in
December and profit of about SIG, and
are now clearing considerably over 81
day.
Last winter, with seventy-one layers,
got good profit in December and 995
eggs in January, and continued good
laying all winter. These seventy-one,
with four or five males, were housed in
two pens, 10 by Is feet, or a little over
feet hen.
The large house, 90 by 80 feet, is only
single boarded, with rough boards with
patent siding tackled on. 1t is six feet
a, the caves and double pitched roof
with a good slope, so there is COM
paratively liberal air space. The roosts,
three feet from the floor, over a good
tight platform, are along the north side.
On the south side are six windows, two
sashes to window, and six lights of
by 10 glass to sash; also one similar
window in the westerly end.
Up high in each gable | cut hole
about eight inches square for ventiia-
tion. These are open all the time unless
bitterly cold or during storms. In sea-
sonable weather the bottom sashes,
which come within about fifteen inches
of the floor, are lifted few inches.
The roost platforms are sprinkled fire.
quently with land plaster to prevent
ammonia escaping, and the floor cover
ed with dry straw for them to work in.
For a cheap house l hardly see where 1t
could be improved upon.
| said at the start that too few fowls
in house might prove detrimental.
The idea is that having them somewhat
crowded, the animal heat given off pre-
vents the house getting so cold as to be
uncomfortable, and if the house frosts
little during the night, unless it is very
cold, the sun and the warmth from the
fowls will thaw it the following day, and
the air circulating through the roof
from the gable vents dries it out.
have not seen it drip particle this win
ter. The pullets are in fine health, lay
ing we'll for the season, and it would be
hard to find more happy lot.
Males, with high, single combs have
not frosted point, and no attempt has
been made to stop up any cracks about
the windows, though the weather has
reached little below zero.
have used narrow houses, but should
never again build narrow house for
winter use.
In wide house the air can be admit
ted without stint and the birds can Keep
out of air drafts, which is next to i'm
possible in a narrow house.
Again, in house of this style six
footer like myself can get about to do
the work standing erect, and having the
birds in good sized tOcks makes feeding
and watering very easy.
Aside from all else, the cost OF hous-
inc a considerable number of birds is
much less in a house twenty feet wide
than in a narrow one.
Should necessity call for it, should
not hesitate to place two hundred layers
in this house and feel sure of good
winter egg production.
In summer they have access to yards
or free ranges, so the crowding does not
harm if not crowded on the roost.-D.
G. Ryther, Yarmouth, Me-, in Tribune
Farmer.