EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



245 



Frequent cultivation of the yards and constant renewal of forage crops 

 are the main essentials in maintaining sanitary conditions. 



A three-yard system has been used in connection with single colony 

 houses with one yard located on each side as well as one at the end. 

 Only two yards are used at once while a crop is being started on the 

 tliird. Oue yard is sown to wheat or rye in the fall and another to 

 oais as early as possible in the spring while the chickens occupy the 

 third, buT are let in to forage on the wheat shortly before feeding time 

 each night to prev^ent waste by trampling. When the oats are nicely 

 started the poultry is given access to it and the wheat as well, while 

 the third lot is being seeded to oats. Buckwheat is used later on for 

 green food. 



Fig, 2. A portable house on runners greatly relieves the necessity for yarding young chicks. 



The portable house on runners, which can be moved from one 

 place to another, greatly relieves the necessity for yarding young 

 chicks. Such places as the farm lane, orchard or cornfield may be 

 utilized furnishing fresh soil, sunlight and shade, and an abundance of 

 insect and other food conducive to healthy conditions and rapid growth. 



Yard gates should be made large enough to permit the passage of 

 all equipment, even such as portable houses. This matter is frequently 

 overlooked resulting in additional labor and expense. 



From the farmers standpoint yardage is desirable at times. In the 

 early spring, during the cold, wet, muddy weather the chickens ought 

 to be enclosed and they should not be permitted to run with the young 

 during the brooding period as the latter will not thrive as well if com- 

 pelled to pick their living with mature fowls. As a rule the farm 



