Building Poultuv Housiis. 22\ 



also true that every time we double a flock we divide the labor. Fifty 

 to one hundred fowls seem to be about as many as it is safe and eco- 

 nomical to keep together in one pen as a unit. If more are together, the 

 weaker are crowded and the individual fowl is lost sight of. Fowls may 

 be kept in small flocks of 35, 40 or 50, each flock having its own roosting, 

 nesting, feeding and watering arrangements, the fowls being permitted to 

 run together during certain seasons. Fowls thus kept undoubtedly enjoy 

 great freedom of action, and it is reasonable to suppose also suffer less 

 from confinement and lack of exercise than they do when kept in single 

 pens. To avoid undue crowding in the pens when the flocks are allowed 

 to run together, a hopper system of supplying the ground feed is desir- 

 able. Probably not more than five to eight flocks should thus be per- 

 mitted to run together if at all. This system is now being tested in 

 several places ; we would not be justified with our present mformation to 

 approve or condemn it. In a few instances fowls are being kept in flocks 

 of 200 to 500 in a single pen. In such cases it would seem that the lack 

 of small flock or family units would be a disadvantage, and the difficulty 

 of avoiding crowding and the loss of the individual identity of the fowl 

 would be greater and partially overcome the saving of labor. The 

 poultryman must always decide for himself the happy medium between 

 the most productive small flock of six or a dozen fowls with its excessive 

 amount of labor, and the less productive large flock with its attendant 

 saving of labor. The best sized flock has not yet been determined ; and 

 when it is, there will still be modifying factors. 



Roosts 



Interior fixtures should be portable to facilitate -fighting the mites, 

 cleaning and disinfecting. The perches should be in the warmest place, 

 out of the path of draughts and as high as possible without endangering 

 the fowls in descending. The form of perch most to be desired seems 

 to be a stick about two by three or four inches with the narrow edge 

 rounded and uppermost. They should be close, so that fowls can snuggle 

 together and keep each other warm, enough space being provided so that 

 they can separate during warm weather. The usual working rule is 6 

 to 8 linear inches of perch room, with the perches at least 12 inches to 

 15 inches apart. They should also be on the same level. ^W'hen they are 

 on dififcrcnt levels fowls will struggle to roost on the topmost perch, and 

 frequently injure themselves by falling while crowding and fighting. For 

 easiest and quickest work in cleaning, tlic perches can be fastened 

 together by cross cleats which are hinged at the back and allow the roosts 

 to lift up and fasten out of the way. Under the perches should be a 



