The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-03-18
Small Space Required
for Poultry Flock

ot ooAN'
When space is limited, So
called "sunporch" consisting of a
raised platform having a floor
of slate or hardware cloth (fine-
mesh wire) provides Satisfac-
try yard" for the flock. This
ensures a dry floor, and the
complete enclosure Of the sun
porch with wire netting on the
top as we'll as sides, protects the
birds against hawks, dogs, and
similar dangers.
The house for a backyard
flock. like any other poultry
house, should be ratproof, Rats
are a serious enemy of city
chickens and the rodents may
come considerable distances to
attack a flock of young chicks,
especially at night, unless the
house is constructed to exclude
them. Do not build a house in a
manner that permits rats to
make their nests underneath 1t.
The house also should have a
tight roof and ventilation for
both winter and summer. Ma
ture and other well-feathered
birds are able to resist cold, but
should be protected against
drafts, especially when roosting
POULTRY HOUSE HINTS
For convenience in caring for
the flock the house should be
about 7 feet high to allow head
room in the working space, al
though the roof may slope down
to about 5 feet in the rear. There
are many styles of poultry hous-
es, but one approximately 8 by
8 feet, having a simple shed roof,
involves comparatively small
outlay and is simple to con-
struct. Such a house will &C
commodate about 16 mature
birds or a larger number of
young chickens. For neat APP
pearance in city surroundings, as
we'll as to protect the buildings,
good carpentry and a neat paint
job are desirable. Pride in the
poultry house is usually the
forerunner of pride in the flock
The equipment of the house
includes rooSts and nests, feed
hopper, and water fountains.
When no sunporch is provided
there should be a grassy run.
Never allow the chickens on a
dirt yard where the grass has
been consumed. A 2-yard sys-
tenn for alternate grazing is fine.
Besides adding to housing capac-
ity, sunporch or other yard is
conducive to health of the birds
and their production of eggs and
meat. Under no circumstances
should chickens be allowed to
have the run of gardens where
they may cause damage.
ELECTRIC HEAT BEST
When the flock is started with
baby chicks, heat must be pro-
vided at least during the first
few weeks. Although CONNER
cial brooders are available for
this purpose, a small number OF
chicks may be satisfactorily
brooded in box provided with
an electric light bulb as a source
! of warmth. The size of box and
size Of bulb depend on the mum.
Der of chicks to be brooded, but
since the chicks will bed down ir
the zone of greatest comfort, the
adequacy of such a brooder car
be readily determined by watch
ing the chicks. If they Grove
too close to the light, put in ;
stronger bulb; if they are forcet
to the outer corners, reduce tn,
bulb size.
Some ventilation in brooder
Is desirable. The use of ordinar,
lamps and lanterns is discourag
ed, both because of the fire haz
ard and also the possibility o
poisoning from carbon monoxid,
fumes. But the type of home
made lamp brooder which il
very popular in Southern State
| Is designed so that the case!
from the lamp do not enter tn,
brooding compartment.
NEXT: Choosing a breed. O
chickens.