14 



ounce duck. These may be removed at any time and a number of pens allowed to 

 run together. If this is done, the solid portion of the partition at the back 

 materially assists in checking drafts, which are common in long, narrow pens. 



In the front of each pen is a door and also a window consisting of sixteen 

 lights eight inches by ten inches, as shown in Fig. 9 A. The upper part of the door 

 is of wire netting covered with a movable frame in extremely cold or stormy weather. 

 This style of house should prove useful to poultry breeders. During the winter 

 of 1912-13 the cotton frames were not used the greater part of the time and we had 

 little or no trouble with frozen combs. 



General Eules foe Building. 



Every hen should be allowed at least four to six square feet of floor space. 

 Each bird of the Plymouth Eock, Wyandotte, and such breeds, requires about nine 

 inches of perch room ; Leghorns, etc., about eight inches ; and Brahmas ten inches. 



Figs. 12 and 13. Front and Back Views of Nests. {Poultry Craft.) 



Eoosts should be made low, or near the ground. There are several reasons for 

 this. Fowls of the heavier breed cannot fly high, and those of the lighter breeds 

 frequently injure the soles of their feet in jumping from high perches. 



When dropping-boards are used, they should be moderately low down, to admit 

 of easy cleaning. Dropping-boards should be made of matched lumber, and should 

 be twenty inches wide for one roost, and three feet for two perches, the first being 

 placed eight to ten inches from the wall. 



Most poultrymen prefer roosts two inches by two inches, with edges slightly 

 rounded. 



Nests. — Many use only old boxes; but such nests, if near the ground, are apt 

 to induce egg-eating. Dark nests prevent this. (Figs. 12 and 13.) 



Nests are usually made from 12 to 15 inches square. 



Cement floors are the cleanest and the results are very good. Their cost is 

 a serious objection. Ground floors are more in favor than board floors, and cost 

 much less. 



In my own experience, the best results are obtained from keeping 20 to 25 

 birds in a flock. Some succeed with 60 to 75 in a flock; but these are the minority. 

 We have received fair returns from a flock of lOO hens. 



