Alma record., 1914-02-05

(By PROF. JOHN WILLARD BoLTE)
Did you know that anyone with q
small yard and the ambition to try.
can easily keep enough chickens to
furnish eggs for the family and enough
extra to pay for the keep Of the flock?
This fact is 80 well proven that there
are hundreds of people doing 1t in
every city and town In the country.
A space of 20 by 80 feet is enough
yard for 80 hens, when handled prop
erly. All 1t requires is the ground
and a reasonable knowledge of the
principles of poultry keeping. In fact,
we know a number Of people who are
keeping poultry successfully, and the
laying hens have never set foot out
side of their houses. OF course this
intensive method calls for considera-
BILE skill and experience in order to
avoid disease and kindred Affections,
due to the very close confinement, but
fowls can be handled successfully in
this way, and the details of this meth
cd will be taken up in later article.
There is absolutely no reason why
lOWio VIII hOl Ia lndllJ CB6o anu w
as well in the city as in the country,
under normal conditions, and it is pos.
sible to produce eggs as cheaply one
place as another, buying the same
amount of food.
Fowls kept in confinement are usu-
ally more profitable than fowls that
have free range, all things being con-
ct iii o1~ l., oil
off as the country flock. City dwell
ers also have the advantage OF having
easy access TO sources of cheap feed
like bakery and hotel waste, fresh
bones from the butcher shop, etc.
The poultry house is one of the most
important factors to success, and sue
cess means many eggs at low price.
The house should face in such a way
that the maximum amount OF sunlight
shines on the floor during the winter
months. This means dry, healthy floors
and freedom from disease and colds
A house 10X10 feet will allow sufii-
cient floor space for from 20 to 80
hens, provided the house is kept scru-
plilously clean, and there is an abun.
dance Of fresh air at all times of day
or night. Have most of the south side
OF the house either glass or muslin
sash, and fully half of it should be the
muslin. Avoid cross drafts and keep
the house as dry and clean and sweet
smelling as your own.
What sort of hens shall we use? The
breed makes absolutely no differ
ence as far as your success is con.
cerned. All of the business breeds
are profitable when handled with com
mon sense, and there is far greater
difference between the different
strains and fiocks in the same breed
or variety than there is between the
different breeds taken as a whole.
The owner of the city flock can feed
his hens at a cost of about dollar
each per year. His return in eggs
should be higher per hen than the
manager Of the large commercial flock
gets, and an average of a dozen eggs
per hen per month is not at all out OF
the way for any small flock properly
handled. Figure out the profit on 80
hens on your back lot for yourself
1t Is not necessary or advisable to
keep a rooster with the city flock, as
the hens will lay better, If anything
without his presence, and you can buy
your young pullets each year just
about as cheaply as you can raise them
in the city. This does away with
the biggest objection to city flocks of
poultry, namely the ROSTERS growing