The Question Box.. V 7 



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Question. — What is the best litter for a poultry house? 



Mr. Chapman. — Buckwheat hulls absorb moisture, arc light, 

 and the grain settles into them. They will keep sweet and clean 

 longer than any other substance known. I use different depths, 

 from 2 to 12 inches in different parts of the house and under the 

 roosts. 



Question. — What are the women going to do when the men do 

 not provide a suitable house for the hens ? 



Mrs. Monroe. — When, a woman demonstrates the profitableness 

 of poultry, a man will he apt to take pains in putting up a house. 



Question; — At what temperature should a hen house l»e kept 

 for best results? 



Mr. Chapman. — The hen does not require as high a temperature 

 as does the cow. I think a temperature of 40 degrees high enough, 

 and I should allow four square feet of floor space for each hen. 

 Some experiments have been made in warming hen houses with 

 artificial heat, but I do not think they have been really successful. 



Question. — Is the " trap nest " a success? 



Mrs. Monroe. — I find the" trap nest "very useful in many ways. 

 As to its perfect reliability, I find some hens that never lav in the 

 trap, but take a corner of the dust bath, or some other place in 

 preference to the trap. The only " trap nest " I have used is the 

 Eureka. If I were doing an " eggs-for-market business," I should 

 use " trap nests " constantly. I have used " trap nests " several- 

 years, but not at any time with the object of determining the 

 exact number of eggs laid by an individual hen. I cannot keep this 

 record, because I am constantly selling birds and taking them 

 away from the pens to fit for shows or to exhibit. 



Question. — Do you think a dust bath necessary ? 



Mr. Chapman. — Fowl will live, unless covered with vermin, 

 without a dust bath, but will not be profitable or as health y as they 

 would with it. Many people who feed enough, have good fowl 

 and warm buildings, fail because they neglect some such point. 



Question. — How many square feet floor space should be allowed 

 per hen? 



Mrs. Monroe. — As much as possible. My hens have eight 

 square feet per hen, and do well where there are 25 in a pen. 

 If the pens were double size more hens per square foot would do 

 well. 



Question. — How large should a building be to keep 50 hens \ 



Mr. Lillie. — A building 15x25 or 30 feet will do. I should 

 divide it and make a scratching shed of one-half. Make the other 

 part warm and keep the hens comfortable. 



