The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-29
POULTRY IN THE BACK YARD.
II Is Desirable That Each Hen Should
Have as Square Feet of Land.

nave as Square Feet OF Land.
From IL to 25 hens are sufficient :
! provide the ordinary family with enoug
eggs and meat to render the keeping o
the birds worth while, according to poul
try specialists in the u. s. department o
agriculture. The amount of outdoor
space the flock will require may be esti
mated at about rs square feet for eacI
bird. There are instances in whicl
chickens have thrived with much les
than this, but unless the soil is especially
favorable and the birds receive unusually
good care, crowding is likely to prove un
profitable,
Poultry specialists do not recommend
however, that everyone with the requisite
space at his disposal should 90 in fol-
chicken raising. Unless there is nat.
ural interest in poultry or a determine
ton to make the flock source of real
economy even If it does take time and
trouble, the venture is not likely to prove
successful. Lack of care may result in
disease that will sweep off the entire
! flock, and it is almost certain to cause
a reduction in egg production that will
make the birds a burden instead 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
rs square feet per bird, larger space af-
fording more green and insect food is
very desirable. For one thing, the ordi-
nary poultry keeper wishes to perpetu-
ate his flock, 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 year.
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 than
there are hens in the flock. With flock
of %. for example, about 80 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 precau-
ton against disease to divide the avail |
bic area into two plats. On one of these /
the chickens are allowed to range, while /
a green crop--wheat or oats, for exam. |
ple-is 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 pre-.
vent the land from becoming contami-
mated.
Additional range, with the advantage
IF large supply of insect feed for the
birds may sometimes be obtained where
/ vegetable garden is maintained At
different times in the growing season
here are areas in the garden which are
either idle or occupied only by crops that
he hens will not touch The birds, CON
ined to these with the aid of a portable
ence. benefit without injury to the veg
tables.
Some Housing Required.
An important item to be considered by
hose thinking of maintaining home