The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-04
Sanitation, Exercise and Correct Feeding Essential to Success With Fowls Confined in Limited Quar- ters-DisinfectantsS Should Be Used Now, and Plenty of Green Food Should Be Given to the Flock
Ny PROF. \. C. SMITH Head of the Department of Poultry Husbnndry, University of Minnesota

Copyright, 19l5D
 In the summer months owners of back yard focks of poultry frequently experi- ence shortage of eggs. while farmers are securing eggs in abundance. Tho failure of the backyard flock is frequently due to incorrect feeding. lack of exercise. insanitary conditions. or a combination of these faults. In this article Professor Smith tells how to manage the home poul- try flock during the hot weather.
 Fowls are almost as universally kept by suburbanltes and villagers as by the farmers themselves. As more than 90 per cent of the latter keep chickens, the extent and importance of the backyard poultry plants will be realized at once. Hens on the back lots require little room and demand little care. which may be given at convenient moments. In convert ing nonedhle waste into especially edible and readily marketable products, she ex- cells any animal that may be kept on a small plot.
 Although on the farm the attention given to poultry is even less In the sum mer than during the winter, the backyard flock requires greater care in summer than at any other season of the year.
 The care of the fowls compared with that of the young chicks is simple mat ter but even adult birds show the erect of confined quarters lack of exercise and lack of food which range supphes r abundance. Natural conditions must be duplicated in q large measure If good results are sought. and substitutes for natural foods must be supplied as well. In fact it is necessary to secure enforced exercise, to maintain strict sanitation, and to provide supply of suitable sub stitutes for natural food found on wide range. This involves a certain amount of labor not necessary when FOWLS nave range and also necessitates good deal more attention than most farm fowls re- ceive. As a consequence, we very often see much better results obtained rom backyard floclks than from flocks having free range on the farm.
 The back-iot poultryman has these three problems: First, sanitation; sec ond, enforcing exercise sufficient to man. tain vigorous health; third, supplying a natural variety of foods.
 Strict Sanitation Is Necessary When fowls are kept in confined yard space, both the houses and the outdoor runs must be kept in a sanitary condi- Non. This really means nothing more than keeping them clean. How often to clean is a debatable question, and the answer largely depends upon the climate and partly upon the environment. The idenl houselSeeper cleans every day. SD does the ideal poultryman.
 Insanitary conditions of any kind must not be tolerated. especially during the warm months. Daily removal of all rel use is advisable. since 1t greatly reduces the danger of disease and of the multi plication of lice and mites. Clean floors, clean nests and even clean walls are con duclve to health. The litter on the floor and in the nests should be removed and burned every two or three weeks depend- ing upon weather, size of the flock, etc. At this time the house should be sprayed with A good mite killing disinfectant Many good disinfectants may be pur- chased Those who wish to manufacture ! one may use whitewash or kerosene With enough carboic acid to give the mlxture a distinct carbolic odor. Spraying is by far the quickest method of application, but less material is required if 1t is ap- piled with a brush. Kerosene emulsion is also an excellent mite killer, and with the addition of carbolic acid becomes disinfectant. Roosts and nests need an application more often than the rest or the house Tn the warmest weather paint or spray the nests and roosts with these mixtures every 10 days or so, while once n month will do for the rest of the build ing.
 Two Yards for Each Flock
 These are from necessity small and very soon become insanitary and in time in- fected with germs of disease. These might be cleaned by removing the top and replacing it with fresh earth, but this is always a laborious and often a very expensive process In general way. it may be said that a yard that eunnorts growing vegetables will be healthful. , A tender forage crop which will answer the double purpose of purifying the soil and absorbing and turning to account the fertlizing value of the fowls droppinss should be sown. This crop will be soon consumed or uprooted and therefore IL IS
 
 ,o how to change in one particular or '. =. li..isasr that he