Rural School Leaflet 



i 13 7 



Hens lay well only when they are comfortable and happy. The happy, 

 singing hen is the laying hen. That is why great care is necessary in the 

 fall in getting fowls into congenial winter quarters early. There are many 

 ways of doing this. One is to provide them with a cheerful, cozy, clean 

 house in which they can be sheltered from the wind, have plenty of sun- 

 shine and fresh air, and at the same time have an opportunity to run 

 out of doors. On the snow? Yes! Yes! A hen does not mind cold feet 

 if she can have her own way. In some respects, hens are like human beings. 

 It is not so important for a hen to go out of doors each day the year round 

 as it is for her to know that she can if she wants to. Hens will not lay 

 well unless they are contented, and freedom helps to make them contented. 



There are many things to be considered in making a home for hens. The 

 word home instead of house is used because many expensive houses are not 

 hen homes; they may look all right, but they are too high or too dark or 

 too damp or too dirty. The home of a hen should be low, bright, dry, and 

 clean, and have neat nests in which the birds can hide their eggs. The 

 location should be dry and sheltered and should have good air drainage. 

 Many of the most troublesome poultry diseases are due primarily to 

 improperly located and poorly constructed poultry houses. The walls 

 must be built so as to provide warmth, dryness, and strength for the house, 

 ease of cleaning and disinfecting, economy in construction, and durability. 

 Interior fixtures should be portable, in order to facilitate fighting the 

 mites. A dust wallow should always be provided. 



VII. WINTER QUARTERS FOR PULLETS 



C. A. Rogers 



As the fall advances and the leaves on the trees drop to the ground, it 

 is time to get the season's flock 

 of pullets into cozy, warm 

 quarters where they can spend 

 the winter in comfort. This 

 is a time when the chickens 

 should be given careful 

 attention, for when exposed, 

 the cold nights and occasional 

 snow flurries soon put a stop 

 to their growth and develop- 

 ment. It is also a critical 

 time, for under favorable care 

 they should soon begin to 



lay. Before putting pullets into winter quarters, the 



The *)pyi Chnrszt* ftiAn n houses should be thoroughly cleaned and disin- 



1 ne pen. ^noose, men, a j eded ^ New UUer shouU be pu( {n and M 



corner of the bam or shed signs of disease destroyed 



