Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-08

The hen houses on the average farm
should be neither expensive nor extensive,
and should be SO located that the fowls
will not be an intolerable nuisance about
barns and dwellings.
There is no reason why fowls should be
permitted to roost all over farm impe-
ments, horse stalls, pig pens and hay
lofts. They should be excluded from
dairy barns. but it is distinctly advanta-
geous to give them the range of sheds
and yards where whole corn is being fed
to cattle.
The most successful plan ] have seen
in operation in the middle states re-
ouires three small houses. One is located
near the dwelling and is especially ar
ranged for hens with chicks. Here the
chicks are raised and fed until nearly
full grown, when the pullets are moved to
a. second house located a the farther side
NJ the barnyard, where they are confined
for two weeks or more, usually until
they begin to lay Meantime the cock
erels not needed for breeding are disposed
Of
When the pullets are liberated from
their house near the barn their first
home is closed and no food is to be found
near the dwelling Meantime abundant
and there is a good permanent sod. near
their house The barnyard furnishes at
tractive picking and they are completely
weaned from the door yard During the
winter they are never permitted to form
the habit of roosting in the barn or sheds.
Their own house has an open front and
their life is as free and normal as the
weather will permit When skim milk
can he supplied the egg weld is always
excellent from this pullet flock
When the pulIets Of the next year are
ready to be moved these yearlings are
transferred to colony house in remote
mart of the farm where outdoor shelter
and scratching space or provided by a
horizontal pole on crotches against which
poles or rails are leaned at intervals OF
about foot and covered with straw, corn
stalks or swale hay These shelters face
south and east and provide excellent sun
ming places on bright days Not very
many eggs are expected from the hens
during the severe part OF the second win
ter. but with the free field and wood
range the best conditions are provided
for breeding stock Since all the fowls
on this particular farm are pure-b bred II
is important to have the very best OF
eggs for Matching
A Simplfied system.
The strong points of this plan are the
following: First, fowls OF different ages
are separated This makes possible a
much more advantageous ration for each
than can be given to mixed flock. Sec
ond. the hen nuisance is removed from
the door yard and porches Third, a Hook
is always on hand near the barn TO clean
nm waste. yet no hens are allowed to
raise chicks there or to choose their own
roosting places Fourth flock Of year
ling hens, wintered by themselves on any
desired ration, are under better control
as to diet and fatness than would be pos
sible at the barn and they are availa
BILE to furnish all the eggs for Matching
II desired
on the farm where this plan is most
successfully carried out the colony house
is near enough TO running water SO that
none need he carried to the old hens un-
less in wears Of extreme drouth This
ages are recorded by punching the Tet
Of the foot. SO that If any hens find their