Evening star., 1919-10-05

several years ago, shortly after be-
ginning work in Maryland, I visited a
well known farmer on the eastern
shore' man whose opinions are
greatly respected and whose farm
showed every indication of intelli-
gent cultivation. 1t was midwinter.
and up in the trees at the rear Of the
dwelling I saw hens and pullets roost-
ing among the branches. In the lay
ing house were a hundred or more
fowls kept for egg production.
l was rather surprised that my host
TOOK SO little care of so many of his
chickens, and I asked him the reason
Tor his apparent inhuman treatment
Of those in the trees, thinking per-
maps 1t was due to lack Of housing
facilities. Why" he said, chose out
sloe are my breeders; the outdoor lie
hardens and strengthens them, and
makes them fit to produce the strong
est and most vigorous chicks. while
by confinement and the forced feeding
for eggs. and they produce weak
chickens, or eggs with weak germs.
1t may have been (and probably
was) that in this particular case the
man was right, though l doubt that
winter improves in any way either
man. beast or bird. 1t is quite GER
tain. however. that any fowl which
could go through a winter like winter
before last roosting in the open must
be inherently strong and vigorous. On
the other hand. vigorous fowls I'M
properly housed will degenerate In
health and vigor.
The man with fowls in the trees
was an EXTREMIST, and there are many
like him. Aside from his treatment
of his breeding fowls. he had his lay
ers SO well protected from outside
conditions and influences that in
house with four small windows only
one was open during the day. and this
was covered with muslin during
stormy weather. At night all were so
tightly closed that if it had not been
for a small crack between. the roof
and front plate scarcely a breath OF
fresh air could have found entrance
Under such management there is no
wonder that the offspring Of the
fowls in the trees were the more Wig
orous.
This method of handling the laying
stock is not confined to the farmer;
too many of our town and suburban
poultry keepers are ignorant of the
fundamental principles Of housing.
Others give little consideration to the
housing problems, believing that most
any old building, or shed in any sort
of condition. provided it is covered
with a roof, will answer the needs OF
the chickens. and that when it comes
to question Of egg production the
feeding is the determining factor.
This view, however. is not the cor
rect one. 1t Is true that we cannot
make our hens lay unless they are
properly fed or unless they are able
to secure by their own efforts on
range the right food materials; but
during the cold days of winter no
method of feeding. however perfect,
will give a satisfactory egg produc-
ton unless the layers are housed as
they should be. OF course, we must
bear in mind that there are other
factors than mere feeding and hous-
ing which influence production. and
that the production Of individuals
must vary. no matter how near alike
all conditions may be made.
As for the laying houses, in their
construction there are certain pfin-
ciples that should be closely OBJ
served. Dampness is menace to
health Lack Of sunshine, among
other things, encourages the growth
of producing bacteria. Drafts
and exposure cause colds. and colds
increase the susceptibility of fowls
to certain contagious diseases, partic-
ularly to that common ailment known
as roup, while insufficient fresh air
lowers their vitality. And as it is a
well established fact that the pres