The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-28
How You Can Turn Your Back Yard Space
Into Profitable War Chicken Ranch
ARTICLE !.
BY Mrs. c. L. Nc Gee.

l believe it is the patriotic duty OF
every acre OF ground or square foot
produce its utmost in something that
viii help win the war.
Most American backyards are in a
state of semi cultivation. or mere waste
ground.
In backyard, where the space is
limited. 81 few chickens. I believe. will
offer the greatest returns for the time
and expense involved.
Many people would raise chickens.
but they think it requires acres rather
than the few square yards back of the
house.
With the proper arrangement and
utilization Of space. a l5-foot strip
across the back Of IL lot will very cas-
lis accommodate 10 chickens. giving
them plenty Of room for breeders for
small chicks, storeroom, etc. TINS
sounds almost impossible, yet in my
own backyard. ! have nearly 60 chick
ems in this amount Of space.
Your pens should have a southern cs :
posture fivc-foot fence about your
yard Will serve for three sides TO the
chicken pens. But all cracks In the
fence must b. closed mp TO prevent
drafts. Wire netting will serve for the
front and the partitions in the pens
Each pen should be six feet wide ny
IL or Ii in length and high enough for
YOU to enter without humping your
head. Each pen should be divided, part
used as a scratch pen filled with straw.
and the other with clean dirt or saw
dust. A floor about two feet from the
ground should be built over the scratch
pen, and above this floor the roostS.
The roosts should be about IL inches
from the floor and all on the same
level. The droppings on the floor un-
der the roosts should be removed
daily. s..a ......
When chickens are confined in a
small space the pens must be kept SAN
itary. An ordinary box win serve as
nest. hut should be elevated off the
ground to avoid dampness. However.
nests that nre accessible without en-
tcring the pen. are better II they can be
80 arranged.
Not more than eight or 10 fowls
should be put in a pen. the most satls-
factory arrangement being six to eigh.
hens to a cock bird. II no eggs are usec
for Matching. the male bird can be dis.
! p6nScO WILL Hr eob0 s~'p S>'"'~. -
good for household use. but are moi
fertile and win not hatch.
! This IL the plan Of all poultry farms
where the male birds are kept only II
the breeding pens for the Matching
eggs. This plan In also used largely II
| the backynrds of cities where the nols'
of growing cocks IL disturbing.
Paint the roosts every 10 days with
disinfectnnt. a teaspoonful OF sheer
dip to a cup of kerosene, to Keep IN
pen rid OF red mites and other vermiI
that disturb the fowls at night.
Chickens confined In q small space
must have exercise. SO In planning YOU
Ipens, be sure to include the scratch
lpen for straw. ....
Here Is n real health hint for Amer
|ican women: Keep n few chickens u
the backyard. 1t viii takes the wiVe
and mothers out of the house into tn
early morning air 4 half hour spent II
the invigorating fresh air in caring 10
the hens will give added 2est to house
work. 1t will prove most desirapl
break In the monotony OF the HON
lduties. American wives need more tim
in the open air and the chicken PEE
will prove to be the cause OF bette
health and cheerier dispositions, a
well as II profitable and patriotic In
vcstment Of energy.
(The next article by Mrs. Mctiee WI
appear III Tuesday mornings Nilsson
q. LAM