The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

good evidence that no eggs are being pro-
duced sN -
If the equipment of the plant permits,
the non-layers should BE- Put in separate
pens, crowded somewhat, If necessary,
andthe workers given plenty of room, and
particularly good care.
In the matter of housing a common mis-
take is to afford too little fresh air. The
most satisfactory types of houses ,to-
day have openings in the south wall oc-
cupying from 20 to 90 per cent of the total
wall area. Inssome eases these are never
closed regardlesssof weather, but the APP
proved practice is to fit them with light
wooden frames covered with thin sheet
ing of muslin which are closed during
storms and extremely cold weather These
serve to keep out the snow and rain, but
permit plenty of the fe-giving fresh air.
Buildings of unsatisfactory types may
be easily and cheaply converted into
fresh air houses by removing some of
the windows. in cases where much glass
Is used or cutting openings in the wall
Windows or other openings may then be
fitted with the protecting frames and COW
cred with the necessary wire netting
Air and Sunshine Desirable
A well ventilated house is most easily
kept in sanitary condition. Air and sun
shine are powerful agents and they ask
nothing for their servic IS.
moisture III the mouse, lnulcaIeu Dy
damp litter or frost on the walls, is due
to lack of ventilation, or, in some cases,
to water being drawn up from the earth
floors. In any event free circulation of
air will cause the trouble to entirely or
at least. largely. disappear.
The word sanitary is a relative term
when used in connection with quarters for
poultry What might oe considered. sani-
tary conditions in q hen house would be
p,o i1pa IN af actnr n doi l,a, But
everything should be kept reasonably
clean. Droppings should be sprinkled
daily with absorbent material, say fine
earth. and removed at frequent intervals
and food and water dishes scalded or
washed with some powerful disinfectant
occasionally. Damp or musty litter should
be replaced with fresh.
All of this safeguards the birds against
disease. But there Is another little pre-
caution which may well be taken. Dur
ing changeable weather especially rainy
spells, many fowls contract colds, which
frequently develop into something more
serious. The use of permanganate of pot
ash in the drinking water during weather
changes will do much In the way of ward
ing off epidemics of this nature. 1t Is
merely necessary to drop enough of the
crystals into the water to change 1t to
a deep wine color.
Certain things add to the comfort OF
the stock. One of the most important of
these is a plentiful supply of litter or
scratching material During the winter
months when the fowls cannot exercise
out of doors a layer of several inches Of
straw, leaves, planer shavings, coarse
hay, peat moss or shredded cornstalks on
the pen floor will keep them working
much of the day. The grain mixture is
thrown into this and the litter will be
scratched over and over until every last
kernel has been found. A handful of fine
chick feed or millet seed will keep a flock
busy for hours.
High egg yields are seldom secured
where the flock is kept on bare floors. OF
course, there are exceptions. but these
are few.