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 he so located that the fowls
will not be an intolerabe nuisance about
barns and dwellings
There is no reason why fowls should be
permitted to roost ali over farm nipple
ments horse stalls, pig pens and hay
lofts They should be excluded from
dairy barns, but ii 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 I have seen
in operation in the, middle states re
quires 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
second house located a the farther side
Of the barnyard, where they are confined
for two weeks or more usually until
they begin to lay Meantime the cock
srels 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 he found
near the dwelling Meantime abundant
feed in hoppers Is supplied at the barn
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 yield is always
excellent from this pullet flock
When the pullets Of the next year are
ready to he moved these yearlngs are
transferred to a colony house in a remote
part 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 bred it
is important 10 have the very best Of
eggs for Matching.
A simpIlfied 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 a mixed flock. Sec
ond, the hen nuisance is removed from
the door yard and porches Third a flock
Is always on hand near the barn to clean
up 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 fairness than would be pos
sible at the barn. and they are availa-
bic TO furnish all the eggs for Matching
il 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 Years Of extreme drouth The
ages are recorded bN punching the web
Of the foot, so that II any hens ind their