Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1914-04-17

There are many forms and styles OF
correctly built poultry houses vet, on the
other hand, many are the ones simply
slapped together without attention be-
ing paid to the really necessary requisites.
Every poultry house should be we'll
| supplied with nests for the hens-they
should be easy of access, both for the birds
and the attendant, and should be the kind
that can readily be removed for cleaning
and disiniecting.
Many are the methods of arranging
nests, and each has its own particular ad-
vantage over others. As a sort of guide,
let me suggest that nests be placed under
the front edge of the dropping board, so
arranged that the hens enter from the
rear; while the attendant gathers the eggs
/ by opening one door or more on the front.
This method is considered an excellent
one as the dropping board acts as a COW
ering for the nests 1t also serves to
make the nests dark, and that is decided
advantage over those into which light
can shine. Hens like to hide, particularly
when in the mood for laying. There is
also less danger of their learning the bad
habit of egg eating.
True it is, this method also has its dis
advantages. When the nests are thus
placed, the floor space under the drop
ping boards or nests is of little or no use
for feeding purposes. Should the floor
be covered with a litter, it will have a
tendency to make hens lay in it; under
the nests instead of going into them; thus
in many instances, eggs are left unnoticed
for several DAYS.
These difficulties, however, may be re-
moved with but little effort. Place a
board, nine TO twelve Inches in width,
across the coop about twelve inches in
front of the nest line. This will keep the
litter from being scratched under the nests
or dropping board and will allow ample
space for the hens to get under and 10 the
nests. The careful pOultryman, or the
man who furnishes guaranteed eggs, will
under no condition sell the eggs which
he finds upon the floor.
However. the arrangement of nests
under the dropping board may be so adj
iusted as to greatly obviate the trouble.
This is particularly true where Leghorns,
or any other of the light breeds that fly
we'll, are kept and where the house is
built with high rear elevation. The
dropping board IN such cases may be ele-
the nests to admit light and allow the
hens free access for scratching.
Where heavier breeds are kept, of
course, this cannot be done, because Of
the fact that their flying from the drop
ping board to the floor might result in
broken legs or bumblefoot. When large
bodied fowls are kept, it is not even well
to build the dropping board on level,
but advisable to construct it on the incline
so as to make the distance from the floor
to the dropping board as short as possible,
If this is done, and the board extends any
distance from the roOsts, as it should,
cleat the board to assist the hens i'll climb
ing to their perches.
No matter how YOU construct the drop
ping board, the roosts should be all on
the same level to avoid crowding among
the fowls. There are many persons who
do not like the dropping board idea, and
surely they are entitled to their own
opinion in the matter. but be that as it
may, it is absolutely necessary at all times
to keep the floor well covered with
good litter This not only serves the
scratching purpose for the hens but will
materially lessen the possibility of injury
to fowls that persist in flying to the floor
from the roosts, without walking down
the inclined dropping board. Should
nests not be placed under the dropping
board, but in some other portion OF the
coop, they should be arranged with the
greatest thought of convenience for both
the hen and the attendant; they should
also be made as dark as possible.
a system Of nests very extensively used
bv poultrymen, is that of placing ordi-
nary boxes in the coop. These are ar
ranged on the walls of the coop, each
being fastened with two small nails.
They are easily removed for cleaning and
n case they become badly infected with ]
-ermin, may be taken out and burned /
with but little loss. However, nests so /
arranged are not very desirable, as they
1--WE the fowls too much light before and
lfter laying. Then too with their use
,ne cannot well trap-nest his birds to as !
certain which are the idle, non producing /
,nes and which are the good layers
If this system is adopted, the eggs
should be gathered at least twice day
particularly where the hens are confined. F.
MANY poultrymen make the mistake OF .
having their rests too small. For the /
ise of Leghorns or other small varieties, /
tests should be at least Twelve lnCneS b
,ouare and twelve to fifteen inches high; (
While for the larger varieties, fifteen
inches every way is not too large to afford
.mple room for the hen.
Don't get to the point where you say
ANYTHING is good enough for the hen,
md then place shavings, sawdust, eXcer-
ior. and other like materials in the nest.
tive them the best you can afford, such
s good light straw or hay, and keep
hem clean. Hens like a pliable, soft
ribstance in the nest, and should be sup
,lied with it.
Fowls will not do their best if permit
ed to become infected with vermi1.
Every breeder should look well to this
nd assist the birds in their effort to keep
lean. Nature has provided a way for
hickens to bathe-they will do it regu-
9rlv if given the opportunity. When on
an9e. one seldom needs to provide
usf bath for the hen as she will soon
md some soft dirt good for the purpose
When thev are in confinement, however,
. is an entirely different matter. Then
-,s mn to YOU to look after her wants.
he likes to wallow in the dirt and thus
Zee her body of scale, lice and mites.
II YOU have no convenient place IN the
nm protected from the weather, then con-
Il. bot oil