Milford chronicle., 1917-10-12

! reason great care should be exercised II
the selection of location and building
, of the cOOps.
: Everything that is done about tht
7 plant should be with an eye looking Il
: their comfort-and at the same time
} seeking convenience for the attendents
, Of cOgrse, fowls can be successfully
raised even though the coops are mol
built for the convenient handling of the
birds, but system beats slip-shOd meth
ods all to pieces For that reason. Il
this point is taken care of in the build
ing, much valuable time is saved and
time means money even in the poultry
business.
The site and matter of building the
coops for the comfort of the fowls, how
ever, are of Just as vital Importance to
the birds as they are to the breeder.
We have on several occasions touched
upon the kind of soil best suited for
poultry raising, but let me again urge
you to be careful about this point If
possible to procure, select a dry, porous
soil. such as sand or loan. This is by
far preferable to a clay soil, as there is
less possibility of sick and unhealthy
fowls resulting from it. There are many
other kinds of soil upon which chickens
can be raised with success, but under
no condition allow them to occupy a clay
soil. unless you desire trouble and plenty
of it.
Every poultry house should contain at
least two compartments, but three is
preferable. One part should be devoten
to the laying quarters, one for rOosting
and a third for the scratch seed. One
of the graYest mistakes made by many
persons who raise chickens is that of
failure to provide scratching quarters.
This is vital to the perfect health of the
fowls and is big factor in filling the
egg basket. Exercise goes a long way
toward keeping the fowls in the pink of
condition and this means in laying trim. |
OF course there are many persons who |
compel the birds to rOOst and lay in the |
same compartment, and while this might |
be alright, yet the best plan to follow |
when building is to separate the two |
rooms.
Don't allow yourself to be inveigled |
into the idea of building a closed coop !
they never count for much in the poul- |
try game. Adopt the open front style !
and thus supply your birds with plenty |
of the good fresh air at all times which /
is so essentially necessary to their health.
The open side of the coop should be Gov
cred with fine mesh wire and you may,
if desired, place a muslin curtain over
this to be used in very severe weather.
But this is hardly necessary unless the
climate is one of extreme cold.
The scratch shed, too, should be open
on at least one side. and this should also
be covered with wire mesh. On rainy or
snowy days never allow the birds out of
their quarters, save for the scratch shed,
as their getting wet tends to disturb
their health and retards laying.
Save for the opening in the south side
OF the house, have no other openings.
This can be easily done if the entrance !
door Is also made in this side. If this is Z
impossible, and it is necessary to cut
the door in some other part of the house,
see to 1t that when closed it is air-tight
and then keep it closed.
The fixtures on the inside Of the house
are also of much Importance and should
be placed there with care. The roosts
should all be on the same level and so
that they are easily remov-
ed for purposes of cleaning. They should
not be made too high in order to prevent
the birds from bursting their feet when
jumping from them.
The nest or laying room should be
comparatively dark, partitioned off from
the rest of the house, with a small door
Tor entry. A small hole cut in the bot
-om of this will permit the hens to 90
nto this room to deposit their eggs.
Hens always lay better if provided
With nests that are secluded, rather
han where they are entirely open and
ubject to plenty of light Darkness
.lso tends largely to Keep the fowls
rom acquiring the habit of egg eating.
nd this is trait hard to cure once the
irds get the habit.
Many persons have adopted the COLONY
Ian of poultry houses, and this is GER
ainly to be advocated where one has
lenty of ground. 1t is impossible in a
asst majority of cases however, and for
nat reason the single house system only
touched upon. Even farmers, who
IKE kindly to chickens for the most
art, are not inclined to devote sufici-
ut space to their fowls as is required
" the colony plan of housing.
From this l believe that you can read
Y see the Importance of the construc-
on of proper or ideal poultry houses,
scause it means much toward an in
eased egg production. At this par
cular time eggs are more or less of a
xury, and will even become more so
the winter advances. Be
1ultry Editor:
l have been raising Barred Rocks, but a
mellow or other they do not seem to -
oduce as they should. I am thinking i
changing but want real egg layer. ~
hat breed would you suggest?
A.-Many persons claim that these =
wis lay as well as any one of the me
esd5 but II you desire a change for N
rposes of getting more eggs would So, SssO
y get White Leghorns or Anconas. pia
ther Of these breeds will produce won Dor
rfully well and are veritable egg ma ~
ines. They work while you Sleep" sou
to speak. c
Several Of my birds are suffering with ~ Il
ght colds. How shall / cure them7 ssiI
A. "A teaspoonful of tanic acid dis shs
we'd in an ounce Of water and syringed vi
the small opening in the roof Of the .ss,
nth latter the puss has been squeezed abO
, will serve your purpose. One or saE