The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-07-16

X3HA IL thc SAccpbiOht pcIHdpS VI dC-
" tual starvation Of the fowls them
selves, there is no other factor in
connection with the keeping of poultry
that will affect egg production and good
vigorous growth so decidedly as poor
or improper methods of housing. This
circular sets forth some of the essen
tials Of a good house for Utah condi-
'tions, and offers plans of three houses
in which an attempt has been made to
include these essentials. The ideas and
plans presented here do not represent
any one person s original work. They
are compilation of the work done on
this subject by those who have preceded
the writer in charge Of the work at this
station, and suggestions that have come
from a study of the types of houses
recommended and in use in different
parts of the country.
The Colony or Stationary House.
There are two systems in common use
throughout the country. The colony or
free range system in which the fowls are
kept in small floeks, housed in small
movable houses, and the permanent yard
system in which the fowls are more or
less closely confined and the house is
built in such way, or of such material
that it is stationary. The colony sys
TEN is admirably adapted to farm con
ditions where only from two to three
hundred hens are to be kept. Where the
fowls are kept in larger numbers than
this considerable time is required to go
from house to house to feed or gather
the eggs. The advantages are, however
in being able to move the house from
place to place about the farm or yard
thus giving the fowls fresh ground and
pasture and utilizing space which at
certain times could or would not be
used for other purposes. The soil is less
likely to become filthy and contami
mated with disease. Where the soil on
which these houses are kept is of a
sandy or gravelly character, with good
underdrainage, there is no need of floors
in the colony houses, and tho problems
of cleaning and keeping the surround
ings fresh and sweet are reduced to a
minimum, since all that is necessary is
to hitch horse to the house and take
it off a short distance to fresh ground.
leaving all manure and filth behind
In winter the houses should be grouped
more or less closely together in a con-
venient place and the soil banked up
well around them before the ground is
frozen too solid.
In the permanent house larger flocks
can be handled with less expense and
trouble, because of many conveniences
that may be provided for the general
management of large flock, Exceed
ing care should be exercised in clean
ing up the yards and houses, in keeping
the soil sweet and fresh by occasional
cultivation, and in preventing the spread
Of contagious diseases.
Whether the colony or the stationary
house is used, the problems to be con-
sidered in planning the house are very
much the same. These may for conven-
fence be divided into four groups.
Health and Comfort of the Fowls
Dryness-The first essential Of the
house itself to insure health and vigor,
lis freedom from moisture. Since the
house must be kept dry it must be To-
Gated in dry place. A gentle slope to
the south with porous soil and good air
drainage is ideal. In many places it will
not be possible to get the ideal, so that
some provision must be made to keep
the moisture out of the house. A good
floor well up from the surface of the
ground is about the best we can do. A
concrete floor, under which is placed a
six or eight inch layer Of fine gravel
or broken stone, will keep out the mois-
ture and will be more easily cleaned and
kept in sanitary condition than the
dirt floor. Many prefer the dirt floor,
however, because of cost, and if six
or eight inches of dirt are placed on top
Of the stone after thin layer Of Gin
ders or other fine material covers the
stone, it does fairly well and will usual
1y be dry; but the dirt must be replaced
occasionally by fresh soil and the cost
Of keeping it in condition will soon pay