South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-08

quarter "a -itcD number OF birds,
ur what proportions render tie
Greatest convenience. how much
perch room % allow how many
nests Go provide. and $50 on. These
are ali problems Of vital Interest
This article has been prepared with
the view 10 answering them on
amt lasis. SO that the Information
VIII BE applicable 20 flocks OF all
sizss.
The size OF poultry house is iu-
Guenced somewhat Ly climate. anil
partly by the amount OF care that
VIII be expended ON the flock.
though the principal factors are the
varieties of chickens TO be housed.
and the units or size of the flocl<s
Let me explain this more fully.
In the southern sections Of the
country. where the climate - more
or less mild during the winter
months and where snowfall H. prac-
tically a negligible element, chick
cn houses need be orly shedlilc
structures. entirely open on the least
exposed side, which is usually the
-0uth wall. thereby permitting AN
abundance Of ventilation. Obvl-
ously. where there IS a constant
changing OF the air. with no chance
for the interior aid TO become foul
and moisture ladened from the
fowls breathing, the cubical con-
tents OF such "a house can be sub
stantially less than the house THAI
due 10 a more severe climate, must
I've Afforded greater protection from
driving SHOWS and heavy gales. and
therefore more closely shut in on
the south wall
In other words. the more it be-
comes necessary 10 closely house
poultry. the more cubic feet Of air
space is required. The cubieal con-
tents of the house is the length
multiplied by the light
space Facilitates Cleanliness.
The amount of care 20 be given
the flock, is the next consideration.
OF course, every prospective pOul-
trykeeper starts with the Cest in
rentiOns in this respect But where
chickens are raised as n side line.
especially in small flocks an the
backyard which Is the most profit
ftnAE hAAAA VI lndAAAN leAA1AAles btNd use
DO is usually the most economical
the owner is likely 10 overlook Ger
tain conditions due 10 inexpericnce.
II get home at six o'clock" ne
viii say. And I'm through work
or Saturdays at nocn. L can at
tend 10 the chickens then
This evening labor WORKS out
nicely in the spring and summer
months. for the days are Ions; but
I'M the winter time il is dark at five
O'Clock in the afternoon. Therefore
II the cleaning must wait until Sat
urdays, which is once a week, the
roosting compartments must be
larger. otherwise there will be q
serious accumulation OF manure
that IS likely 10 grove a menace 20
the floCks health. The situation
platforms or floor under the perch
as is cleaned daily, the roostin2
compartments and therefore the
house may he relatively smaller
Increased space may not only facil-
itates cleanliness, but it permits of
longer intervals Letw cen the clean
inEs.
Heavier Breeds Need More Room
I'M a trolley car than thin one.
sometimes the former viii bu.
block an aisle or obstruct q door
The same idea holds true of fowls
ordinarily the heavier breeds such
as plymouth Rocks. Brahm5s and
orphingtons, require about one
half asaiu as mucd room as the
small or medium-siZe fowls like
the Leghorrs. Campines and Minor
cas-
IN the other hand, The lighter
breeds or egg varieties. beine more
eNcitable and fliEhty. are more like
ly 10 become Unduly agitated and
panicky when crowded into tno
corner of q small pen. And this
excitement or panic is not con-
cucive 20 esG production. In fast
the birds are apt 90 seriously in
cure themselves ly striking against
corners and projections Egzs have
been broken internally 10y sudden
flights. resulting iT the hens deaths.
8Imble foot is caused by Wmpiu-
from high places 20 hard floors.
The size of the flock is still ar
other factor When fowls are kcp,
in small units more floor space is
needed The reason for this is
quite apparent. I'm tho small flock,
saw 90 birds in pen 10 by . feet.
each hen is confined 10 very mar
row compass though she has AN
allotment az six square feet which
IS deemed fairly adequate. I'm a
lrge flock OF 500 Layers. house
ia buudine lf feet deep ard 100
1eet long. each bird would have Iut
trlde over three square feet of
floor space. yct IL would have toe
freedom CT roamln- ard scratchins
over the entire area. and would
NOT he oppressed with the leellnS
OF coustraint-
IN the small house or pen the ate
tcndaut viii have difficulty in clean
ing without appearing 90 crowd the
flock into CORNERS. ia the large
house the flock can always set ava.
from the attendant. and VIII NOT
fear his activities.
Thus. the situation NAV ue taken
about as fellows. Allow six Oh
seven square feet Ter bird Tor al.