Carrizozo news., 1918-05-31
TOWN HENS MAKE
FOOD FROM WASTE
Need for Increasing City Flooks
Explained by Department
Of Agriculture.
SMALL YARDS AFFORD ROOM
Cheap Eggs for City Family May Be
Obtained by Feeding Hens Waste
From kltehen--Male Bird
10 Not Necessary.

Poultry and eggs have never been
eueap food for the city dwo!ler. There
fs no hope that they can be, during
the continuance OF the war and It's
necessarily Attendant high prices, even
us relatively cheap ns they ordinarily
have been. The only possibility OF
cheap eggs for the city family lies In
keeping enough hens IN the back ynrd,
whore they can be supported prlncl-
pniiy on kitchen waste, to supply the
family table. Keeping hens In the
back yard Is Mt once nn economic op-
portunity for city families and an es.
sentlnl part Of the campaign for IN
creaslng poultry production.
What may be done with fowls IN n
bnck yard depends upon the size of
the yard, the character OF the soil, the
conditions Of sunlight, shade nnd ven
tllntion, and the interest and skin of
the poultry keeper. The smallest and
lenst favornbly situated back yard AZ.
fords an opportunity to keep at feast
enough hens to supply eggs for the
household. The number OF hens need
ed for that purpose Is twice the num-
ber of persons TO be supplied. Hence
the smallest flock TO be considered con-
slsts OF four hens. Where hens are
kept only TO furnish eggs for the table
no male bird Is needed.
Suitable Coop for Small Flock.
A coop for flock OF four hens
,eJuld have floor area OF about 20
squire feet, or about feet per hen.
For larger flocks the spnce allowance
per bird may be little less, because
the space is used In common and each
bird has the use Of all the coop ex-
cept what her companions actually oc-
cupy. For the ordinary flock Of 10 TO
10 hens the space allowance should be
about four squire feet per hen.
With proper care the backyard
poultry keeper can keep hens, for lay
Ing only, combining them continuously
to their coops, and have them lay well
nearly MS long ns they would be profit.
able layers under natural conditions.
While hens like freedom, good feed
and care reconcile them to conilne-
ment, and mature, rugged birds often
lay more eggs IN close confinement
than when at liberty.
II the space admits OF giving the
little backyard flock moro room than
a coop OF the minimum size required.
the condition OF the land will deter
mine the form In which tho additional
space should be glvcn. II the soil Is
well drained and free from such Nth
as often communicates the soil of small
back yards yard for the fowls may
be fenced In, allowing 20 10 30 square
feet of yard room per bird. The op-
portunity for exercise ON the land and
In the open air which this gives the
hens VIII benefit them, and make life
for them more interesting.
II the soil Is poorly drained ana foul. |
the hens win thrive and lay bettor IL |
not allowed on IL at all. In that case,
the best way 10 give them some bene. |
NJ OF the extra space available Is to
build adjoining the coop q shed cover i
ine about the sumo amount Of ground, |
ana having the front 'uclosed only |
With wire netting The foul earth un- |
der this shed should be removed and |
the floor filled ln few lnchcs higher
thhn The old surface with fresh earth |
or sand
Attention 10 Cleanliness,
liy proper attention tn cleanliness
ihls may be kept n sanitary condition
for yenr or more. Whatever ndynn.
inge cnn be Rivcn the hens IN this way
Nih tend to increase production. aud