Milford chronicle., 1917-08-03

One Of the most important features IA the con
duct Of a poultry plant is the proper housing OF
birds during the winter and strange to say thus
matter is generally overlooked by the average
breeder, and he pays but little or no attention to.
For the most part all the average poultryman
is interested in is seeing that there is roof over
the fowls, without any regard being paid to their
health and comfort. The failure to see that the
birds are properly and comfortably housed results
in the loss Of many specimens. and necessarily
means loss to the breeder in real coin.
If you are who has given this subject no
special thought or attention let me impress you
with its Importance and drop the gentle hint that
the present is a most excellent time to reconstruct
your houses as that they will answer for winter
use While the sun still shines and the warm
weather is with US It is most excellent time to
put into practice the old adage, Make hay while
the sun shines" or in other words, prepare the
fowls quarters for winter use before the heavy
weather sets in and finds you unprepared. Sum-
mertime offers unusual advantage to change from
the old and antiquated variety Of poultry house to
the latest and best form, that Of the opentront
style. as the change can be effected without en-
dangering the health Of the birds.
| When you wait until cold weather sets in before
you do anything along THE line the birds are apt
to catch cold and more serious developments result
While it is true that all things are important
| connected with the raising Of fowls, yet there are
| some of the details which stand out prominently
as being of vital necessity to insure success. One
of these is the proper housing of the birds. for it
ranks with that of feeding, No matter what you
do for the care and comfort Of the fowls. If TIE
housing is not properly taken care Of, your birds
will continually be out of condition and no fowls
4
are profitable in this stage.
Bad and improper housing is more often the
cause for the presence of colds and roup in the
flock than any other one thing, and if you have
ever had any experience with these matters you
can readily understand what they mean. A falling
off of the egg yield naturally means cut in the
profits. and this is one of the prime reasons why
place so much importance upon the question Of
proper housing.
In preparing for the coming winter, first see
that your fowls are in good healthy condition,
then if your houses are not already built along
lines that will insure continued health TO the birds
and in addition are not both sanitary and comfort
able, reconstruct them at once. The secret of
poultry house construction is the admittance Of
plenty of good fresh air and sunshine, without
subjecting the fowls to a draft. At the same time
the coops must be perfectly waterproof.
Rebuild the houses while the birds are yet in
healthy condition, rather than wait until the bad
weather acts in and they get in an uahealthy
state, If you take steps then to remedy the de-
feet. it may be too late.
Therefore, / say with emphasis that now is an
exceptionally good time to begin operations in the
poultry yard and especially with regards to the
Encouragement of the cOops. Most any old kind of
a house will suffice during the extremely hot
weather but il requires one built along proper
lines TO provide for the wants on the fowls during
the cold and bleak blasts of winter. And unless
these matters receive your attention now, your
business will surely suffer loss later
Colds generally result from the fowls being COM /
peeled to roost in a draft. about the same as with
people. The effects in eth r case are similar.
The average poultryman is adverse to taking
any Of the blame for the poor showing of his
chickens. but invariably lays the blame at the
door of the birds themselves. In other words he I
hates to acknowledge that he has not given the !
fowls the proper care and attention, and when |
their showing is poor. shifts the blame.
Open-front houses will insure good healthy and |
vigorous birds They also eliminate foul Odors 1
from remaining in the coOps for any length of |
time. These are carried of by the constant cur