Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-06


of a help. In some localities where
municipal ordinances may prohibit
the keeping of poultry within certain
| limits. care should be taken that the
poultry yard is not in a prescribed
area.
Space for Flock
While it is possible to get along
with twenty-five square feet per bird,
Il larger space affording more green
| and insect food is very desirable. For
one thing, the ordinary poultry keeper
wishes to perpetuate his aock, and the
raising of young chickens requires as
much land as the keeping of mature
hens. After she is two years old, the
best laying days of the average hen
are over and it usually pays to get rid
| of her. This means that half the
| flock must be renewed each yedr.
Since as many cockerels as pulletS Will
be Matched and a certain percentage
are certain to die, it is customary to
hatch each year a few more chickens
tthan there are hens in the flock. With
a flock of twenty-five, for example,
about thirty chickens should be raised.
The same space must be allowed for
| these as for the laying hens. The
cockerels are consumed through the
season, being used either as broilers
when they are about three months
old, as friers, or as roasters.
1t is also most desirable as a pre-
caution against disease to divide the
available area into two plots. On one
of these the chickens are allowed to
range while n green crop-wheat or
oats. for examples being grown for
them on the other. The preliminary
turning under of the soil, the green
crop and freedom from chickens for
a period serve to prevent the land
from becoming contaminated.
ldNAn-
tage of a large supply of insect feed
for the birds, may sometimes be OBJ
tanned where a vegetable garden is
maintained. At different times in the
growing season there are areas in the
garden which are either idle or occu-
pied only by crops that the hens will
not touch. The birds, confined to these
with the aid of n portable fence, bene-
fit without injury TO the vegetables.
Some Housing Required
An important item to be considered
by those thinking of maintaining a
home flock is the cost of the house.
For some part of the year at least, in
almost every section of the United
States. chickens require the shelter of
a tight, dry building. In planning the
house. approximately four or five feet
of floor space should be allowed for
each bird. The height may be deter
mined by the convenience of the oper-
ator, for the birds themselves need
only two or three feet. Such low
houses, however, are very difficult to
clean, and, in consequence, are likely
to be neglected. 1t Isl better to build
them so high that a man may work
in them without discomfort.
A not uncommon device is to use Il
piano box for a chicken house. The
cost of these houses depends largely
upon circumstances, though no eSti-
mate can be given. 1t may be possible
to find one the owner will be glad to
give away; and. on the other hand,
one may have to pay $3.50 or more
for box that is no better. BY COM
bining two piano boxes, a very salts
factory shelter for a small flock can
be made at little expense. Where lum-
ber must be purchased, II has been
estimated that the materials for a
substantial chicken house may cost
anywhere from so cents to S1.00 per
bird. and it is not unlikely that with
the present prices of commodities of
all kinds, these figures will be some
what low. Portable chicken houses
are also on the market at costs vary
ing greatly. The majority, however,
will probably cost the owner from
$50 to $500 for each bird sheltered
by them. In any event, it is probable
that unless there is plenty of spare
lumber available and the prospective
poultryman happens to be good car
penter, the cost of the chicken house
will not be met by the value of the
products over the cost of food for
the flock for a year or two. The
house should last, however, for a
number of years, especially If painted
and well cared for. Substantial profits
from. the investment should be made
thereafter.
In many cases also, where the sur
roundings are such that the chickens
q n nf hn O 70
the cost of fencing must be consid-
cred. This. obviously. will vary great
/ ly with the size of the area to be
enclosed and the kind of fencing Sc
lected. Ordinary chicken wire is not
expensive.
Cost OF Keeping Chickens
The actual economy secured by the
keeping of a small flock of chickens
depends primarily upon their egg pro-
duction, and this. in turn, is largely 4
matter of care. Under favorable con-
diuons, however. it is estimated that
$50 eggs the first year and 120 the
second is a fair return from the or
dinary hen. on the other hand. at
least from rs to so cents a year must
be expended for grain and other feeds,
the exact amount depending upon the
quantity of table scraps and green
and insect food available. Where all
the feed must be purchased, from 81
W SI'GO is dllOWeu. LNen III the most
thrifty household, however. there is
always a large quantity of table
scraps, vegetable parings and other
left overs" for the hens. so that
considerable portion of their feed con-
sists of what otherwise would be car
ried off the place by the garbage man.
Although of less Importance than
the eggs, the supply of poultry for the
table furnished by the home flock is
an item that cannot be overlooked. AS
has been pointed out, in a flock of
twenty-siX which the owner is per-
petuating, there will be approximately
twelve or thirteen cockerels. almost
all of which can be used best for food
Half OF the hens must go each year
also, so that allowing for losses and
for birds reserved for breeding, there
still will be enough appreciably to af-
feet the butchers bill.
W. G. T. Q. MEETING
Shiremanstown, Pa, April 6.-The
monthly mating of the Shirau ans