Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-21

Ten years ago poultry raising was
regarded as work fit only for women
and children. The man who devoted
his entire time to the poultry business.
or who spent n few hours each day
In taking care of his chickens was
derisvely termed "a chicken crank"
In the last decade the public attitude
toward the poultry business has I'M
dergone n radical change.
More and more each year it Is being
recognized that poultry raising on a
small scale is an established source
OF revenue to residents of villages and
cities as we'll as to farmers. Increas-
ed interest in poultry keeping is due
to many causes. The back to the
farm idea has been the subject of
articles In practically every daily
newspaper. Added to this has been
the campaign by Federal and State
officials for better farm conditions
generally. Boys and girls poultry
clubs and poultry shows have aroused
interest in better poultry. All these
have caused hundreds of people, who
previously looked with disdain upon
poultry keeping, to investigate care
fully the advisability of keeping a
few hens on the back lot.
The soaring prices of meat gave i'm
petus to poultry keeping. In the last
ten years the price of beef has increas-
ed from 25 to 80 per cent. according
to locality and distributing facilities.
The average citizen naturally looks for
cheaper course of meat. When he
goes to buy poultry or eggs he comes
face to face with the increase in
prices there also. 1t Is here that he
comes to the point Of considering what
ne can do in n small way by keeping
a few hens and thus cut down the
size of his meat bill.
START NEED NOT BE COSTLY.
The beginner or amateur should not
conclude that he requires a great deal
of money to make a start, because he
should not start on too large a scale.
While money usually can be made in the
poultry business, yet like every other bust
ness II requires hard work. some expert
ence and little capital to get adequate
results.
The beginner will make mistakes and
have setbacks. and II he starts on too
large scale his enterprise, instead of
proving a source of revenue and profit,
will be more likely n source of loss.
The number of hens that can be kept
on any given ground space depends large
ly on the care that is given the hens.
A space 10 by % feet is sufficient for
from ten to fifteen hens II 1t Is spaded
up once week, so as to keep the ground
fresh and clean The house should have
not less than three to four square feet
OF floor space for each bird.
For house the cheaper the cost the
better, provided 1t is wind and raintight.
and has sufficient ventilation and light.
1t should not be less than five feet high
IN the rear. and from Z to feet high
In the front. 1t should have a shed roof,
covered with the best grade of prepared
roofing, and the front of the house should
face South. The roosts should be in the
rear. over dropping board two feet above
the floor, so as to allow the fowls oppor-
tunity to exercise over the entire floor
space.
There should he tko windows; one Of
glass to let in the light, and the other
covered with either muslin or burap,
for ventilation. and this latter window
should be kept open all the time pos
sible, The door should be at the side or
front. Nest boxes should be under the
windows and arranged with a cover that
can be let down at night to prevent the