Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-14

birds. or what proportions render the EIc"t
est convenience; how much perch i''h 10 ~
low; how many nests TO provide, ana 30 on
These arc all problems of vital interest This
article has been prepared with the view to
answering them on unit basis so mat tho
information will be applicable to focks oil All
sizes.
The size Of poultry house is Influenced
somewhat by climate, aud parity ny ih'
amount Of care that will be expended on thn
flock tho tho principal fnctors are inc
varieties Of chickens to bo housed, ana the
units or size Of the hocks Let me explain
this more fully.
In tho southern sections Of the country
whore the climate is more or less mild during
tho winter months. aud whore snowfall Is
practically negligible element, ehickoh
houses need be only shed like struhctuIes'
entirely open ON the least exposed side, which
ia usually tho south wall. thereby permitting
nm abundance OF ventilation. obviously,
where there is constant changing OF We
air with no chance for the interior air to
become foul and moisture laden from inc
fowls breathing, the cubica contents OF surh
n house can be substantially less than tho
bou,e that due to more severe climate
must be afforded greater protection from
driving SHOWS and heavy gales, and thoie
fore moro closely shut in on the south wall
In other words, the more IL becomes ncccs
sary 10 closely house poultry, the more cup'c
feet of air space is required. Tho cubicas
contents Of the house is tho length multi
piled by the depth, multiplied by the heig"'
Space Facilitates Cleanliness.
The amount Of care to be given the flock
iS the next consideration. OF course, every
prospective poultrykeeper starts with tho most
intentions I'm this respect. but whero chick
a.N lin
small nocks In tho backyard, which is tho
most profitable Kind OF poultry raising be
rause IL is usually the most economical, tn,
owner is likely to overlook certain con-
ditions, due to mcNpcricnce.
II get home at O'clock ho will say.
"And I'm thru work on Saturdays at noon
eau attend to the chickens then
This evening labor works out nicely IN
tho spring and summer months, Tor the da|
are long; but IN tho winter time 1t Is DARK
at o'clock in the afternoon. Therefore
n the cleaning wait until Saturdays, which Is
once A week the roosting compartments must
be larger otherwise there will be serious
accumulation OF manure that is likely a
proye A menace to the flOck's health. The
situation may bo summed up thus: II the
platforms or floor under the perches
cleaned daily, the roosting compartments ana
therefore the house may be relatively smaller
Increased space hot ohlN i"'H'"''' '''"''"',
hut IL permits Of longer intervals between tho
cleNnings.
Heavier Breeds Need More Room.
fat man takes up more room in a trolley
car than thin one. Sometimes the former
will all but block an aisle or obstruot a
door Tho same idea holds true OF fowls
Ordinarily. tho heavier breeds. such hs
Plymouth Rocks Brahmas and Orpingtons
rcouire about one half again as much room a-
tho small or medium siSo fowls, like the Leg
horns. Campincs and Minorcas.
On tho other hand the lighter breeds OF
osc varieties being more cVcitabc and flighty,
arc moro likely to become unduly agita'ed
md panicky when crowded into tho corner
Of small pen. And this excitement OF panic
is not conductive TO egg production. In
fact tho birds are apt 20 seriously iniurc
themselves by striking against corners and
proiectons Eggs have been broken in
tcrnauy by sudden flights resulting IN th'
hens deaths Bumblo foot Is caused by
jumping from high places TO hard floors.
Tho siro of the flock is still another factor
wher fowls are kept in small units NOR,
floor space is needed. The reason Tor TINS y
ouito apparent In the small flock. say u
birds In a pen 10 by IL feet each hen is con
fined TO u very narrow compass, tho she ha
an allotment Of six square feet which v
deemed fairly adequate. In large iock
500 layers. housed in u building 10 feet deel
and 100 feet long, each bird would have bu
a trinc over three square feet OF floor space
Vet IL would have the freedom OF roaming
and scratching over the entire area, and woul
not be oppressed with tho feeling OF con
straut
In the small house or pen the auendan
will have difficulty in cleaning without al
pcarinr to crowd the flock into corners. L
tho large house the flock can always gc
away from the attendant, and will not Tea
his activities.
Thus. the situation may be taken about a
follows: Allow to square feet per bir
for an classes u the houses are small; provid
to square feet per bird Of the Plymout
Rock or Wyandotto type in houses whore ia
florks are made up OF large units. and ALLOW
& TO square feet per bird for Lcghorns an
similar classes when they are kept IN lars
flocks This Is the practice on many Of tn
largest commercial farms.
suggestions for Yarding.
Chickens do not require unlimited rang
TO give good results providing the dehe
encie, OF a small uclosure are met by supply
ing them With sufficient green SUITS, anim'
food and so ON. Yet it is bad plan I
attempt to keep a very large flock in yer
small yard unless considerable labor is eN
pcndod I'm spending or powing up the soil a
crowded with fowls. especially the soil
heavy. is easily contaminated by their droi
pings which will be particularly objection
able and iusauitary In wet weather
Whenever possihl, 1t is best to have doubI
yards. either side by side or on both side
OF the house, so that when tho flock is %
cupyiue one yard the other may be sown
clover rye or other greens This cultivato
not alone sweotons the soil, but 1t will tu
nish large amount OF the necessary vegetab
food.
II yards are intended To he kept in permit
nent sod, It will be advisable to allow at Leaf
hundred square feet per fowl Othcrwi'
the birds will soon destroy the entire growt
II the runs are intended for exercise onl
and the greens are supplied from oulsi'
sources. about 25 square feet or triflo LEI
per bird is sufficient.
In any event it is well to remember tn
the nearer square yard is made the less
costs to fence q given area, Furthcrmor
the flock is more securely confined within
square yard the birds have not the feeh'
Of restraint. as in a long narrow yard ho'
ever. the height of a fence is largely matt
OF the breed one keeps.
II