The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-16

is cleaned daily, the roosting compart-
ments and therefore the house may be
relatively smaller. Increased space
not only facilitates cleanliness, but IL
permits of longer intervals between
the clelnings.
Heavier Breeds Need More Room.
4 fat man takes up more room in a
| trolley car than u thin one. Some
times the former will all but block an
aisle or obstruct door. The same
&, idea holds true of fowls. Ordinarily
the heavier breeds. such as Plymouth
| Rocks. Brahmas and Orpingtons. r.
auire about one. half again as much
room as the small or mediu,nsaac
| fowls. like the Leghorns. CAMPING;
| and Minorcas.
| On the other hand the lighter breeds
or egg varieties. being more extitabic
and flighty, are more likely to become
unduly agitated and panicky when
| crowded into the corner of a small
pen. And this excitement or pan:2 Is
not conducive to egg production. ~
fact, the birds are apt TO seriously in-
jure themselves by striking against
corners and projections. Eggs have
been broken internally by sudden
flights, resulting in the hens deaths
Bundle foot is caused by jumping
from high places to hard floors.
The size of the flock is still lnoth"
factor. When fowls are kept in SINAI
units more floor space is needed. Th'
reason for this is quite apparent. II
the small flock, say 90 birds in u pei
10 by II feet. each hen is confined to
very narrow compass, though she HI,
an allotment of six square feet, whic
Is deemed fairly adequate. In II larg
flock of 500 layers, housed in a build
ing lG feet deep and 100 feet Ions
each bird would have but a triila Owe
three square feet Of floor space. "
$ ii would have the freedom OF roalnin
: and scratching over the entire are;
g and would not be oppressed with IT,
feeling of constraint
Ia tn" small house OF pen the attend
ant will have difficulty in cie;tnin
" without appearing to crowd u" tloc
. into corners. In tho large house II
- flock can always get away from the n
| tcntiant, and will not 1rar his actiN
ties
II Thus, the situation may be take
| about as follows: Allow six to seNC
square feet per bird for all classes
| the houses are small; provide five
six square feet per bird of the Pl!
mouth Rock or Wvandotte type
| houses where the flucks are made I
of large units; and allow three 10 fo'
square feet per bird for Leghorns ii,
similar classes when they are iEept
d. large flocks. This is the practice
In many Of the largest commercial farm
Chickens do not require unlimit
-, range to give good results. providi
- the deficiencies of u small inclosu
-, are met by supplying them with suf
~, Gent green stutfs, animal food ana
Mt on. Yet it is bad plan to attenl
oy to keep a very large flock in n Y,
mt small yard. unless considerable lal
no is expended in spading or blowing
as the soil at frequent intervals. T
b. earth in a yard crowded with tow
nv especially If the soil is heavy. Is el
he ly contaminated by their drcppin
for which will be particularly obiccti'
on able in wet weather.
ny. Whenever possible ii Is best to h;
eos double yards, either side by side OF
me- both sides of the house, SO that wi
the flock is occupying one yard,
other may be sown to clover. rye
other green. This cultivation
lis. alone sweetens the soil. but 1t will
ira nish a large amount of the necess
mer vegetable food. -fsr, Is
on Ii yards are intended 70 be KEEP
the permanent sod. Il will be adyisabl
let. allow at least -. hundred square
ears. per fowl. Otherwtss. the birds
even soon destroy -thc ,onttro growth. I
runs are intended for exercise