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

and allow three to four square feet
per bird for Leghorns and similar
classes when they are Kept in large
foCks. This is the practice on many
of the largest commercial farms.
Suggestions for Harding.
Chickens do not require unlimited
range TO give good results. provid-
ing the deficiencies of a small 81
closure are met by supplying them
with sufficient green stuns. animal
food and so on. Yet II is a lad plan
10 attempt 10 keep a very large
flock in a very small yard. unless
considerable labor is expended in
spadins or blowing up the soil al
frequent intervals. The earth in 2
yard crowded with fowls. especially
if the soil is heavy, is easily con
taminated by their Groupings. which
VIII be particularly Objectionable
and insanitarv in wet weather.
Whenever possible il is best to
have double yards either side 10y
side or on both sides Of the house,
so that when the flock is occupyiuu
one yard, the other may be sown 10
clover rye or other green's This
cultivation not alone sweetens the
sell, but it viii furnish a large
amount of the necessary vegetable
food.
If Yards are intended to lie kept
il permanent sod, it will be advis-
able 10 allow at least a hundred
square feet per fowl otherwise
the birds will soon destroy the en-
tire growth. II the runs are in
tended for exercise only, and the
green's are supplied from outside
sources. about . ; square feet OF a
trlhe less per bird is sufficient
In any event it is well 10 remen-
Der that the nearer square "a yard Is
made the less Z costs 10 fence q
given area Furthermore. the fCcE
Is more securely confined within d
square yard; the birds have not ths
feeling of restraint as i'm Ions
narrow yard. However. the height
of the fence is largely a matter a
the breed one keeps.
The meat breeds, such as TIE
. "a
three 10 four-foot fence; the dual
purpose breeds. such as the Rocks
within a four 10 fve-fOot fence and
the egg breeds such as the Leg
horns. within a six or seven-foO;
fence. Never construct a yard wit.
a rail AT the top, unless the run is
10 be covered with netting, for Ia
90 so only invites the fowls TO Fly
and alisht ON it. Netting can bC
stretched satisfactorily without a
rail if carefully done
Nests and PerchcS.
The warmest part of the I'i'dina
and that which is freest froa' p "afts
should be- selected for the roOstin-
compartment. which is usually
against the rear wall. Each foU
should be allowed about 10 inches
linear perch room. and all TIE
pelches should be of the same
height. or the birds viii fight and
strusglc for the highest ones Run
nine the perches the long way ot
the house. that is. parallel with tn,
rear wall. is generally the most CON
yenieut arrangement.
Next iE Importance 10 the roost.
inns compartment is the arrangement
of nests. OF which there should ia
at least one TO every four or fve
LAYERS Under natural condition,
the hen seeks secluded spot III
(which 90 law hence il behooves the
builder 10 initiate this seclusion
The nests should be situated I'm q
more or less dark place. easily ac-
cessible. and ir such way that
they do not Cbstruct passa Seways @,
iutrude upon the floor area. An un-
cuztructed Moor is of vs;al import
once. and il should not be robbed
.r any way unless absolutely neces-
-ary.
Each nest should be about i by
It inches square. and about :
inches hich with partitions betwe OF
them 10 keep the hens from hgat-
ina.
Poultry buildings can be erected
no cost OF 81 per bird or $40 peI
bird il an depends upon the man.
nor iu which the structure is built
tand finished. A. commercial
lrIopoSidou. where the houses are
built FOR utility purposes ony. ami