Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-03
Poultry Yard Notes.

Too much emphasis cannot be laid or
the necessity for having the houses wind
PROOF and rain-proof before bad weather
sets in. The open front type OF house
prevails In, this section, this type giving
ample ventilation with plenty Of sunlight
when the house faces the south. as II
should Careful attention should be
given to roofs however. to see that no
leaks have developed during the sum
mer through which rain or the water
from melting snow might drip down on
the fowls or on the litter And the care
full poultryrnan will also make sure that
there are no cracks or crevices in the
north side of the house through which
cold winter winds may blow upon the
roosting fowls. Epidemics Of colds. run
ming into roup, frequently are occasioned
by just such apparently trivial things as
these, and one such epidemic is often
sufficient to wipe out an entire years
profits, if it doesn't wipe out the entire
flock. A little foresight and adeuuat e
preparedness are the safeguards against
such calamity.
No matter whether straw, chaff,
leaves or lawn clippings are used as
litter, the material must be perfectly
dry when it is placed on the floors, and
1t must be kept that way. Damp litter
creates chill in the house, affords dis
ease germs a harboring place, gives
the fowls colds and decentralization
don't smile, because hens are often
troubled with rheumatism, which seems
to bother them quite as much as it does
human beings-and makes for bad con-
ditions generally. Be sure the litter is
dry when it goes into the house; see
that it is several inches deep-six or
eight inches is not too deep-and then
be sure the houses are weatherproof,
SO that the litter will be kept dry; in
this manner a great deal may be ac-
complfshed toward keeping the layers
in good health and on the job all the
time.
A short article printed in these col
unins last Sunday on selling eggs by
weight instead Of by the dozen has at
tracted considerable attention, as is
shown by the fact that the poultry
editor has received n number of COM
munications on the subject. One pouf-
tryman wrote:
81 read the article on selling eggs by
weight instead of by the dozen, which
appeared in last Sundays Star, and
want to register my entire approval
Of such a. plan. By careful attention
to the care and feeding of my hens.
after many. years of work breeding up
a strain of heavy layers of big eggs,
I am in a position to market eggs that
will average right straight through
thirty ounces to the dozen. Ny Sc
lected eggs run as heavy as So ounces
to the dozen, or three ounces per egg.
A neiehbor who also sells eggs has
an ordinary flock Of layers that pro-
duces eggs around twenty-four ounces
to the dozen, for his, selected eggs. The
eggs he sells, as well as the eggs from
my flock, are marketed within twenty
four hours after they are gathered. and
both are equally fresh. But my select
ed egg weigh twelve ounces per
dozen more than his. yetAI never get
more than cents dozen more for my
eggs than he gets for his. On the face
Of it, this is not fair. and as long as
the custom prevails of selling eggs
BY the. dozen instead of: by, actual
weight there will be little material in
ducement for poultrymen to try to
develop a strain of heavy layers Of big
eggs"
In disposing of surplus cockerels be
sure to reserve, at least for awhile yet,
those young males matched from eggs
laid by the. extra heavy, laying hens.
It has been Established beyond doubt
that the tendency to heavy egg laying
is transmitted much more strongly by
the male than by the female. u