Questions on Poultry House Construction. 



361 



Q. 6. Hozv many hens should be kept in one flockf 



Ans. 6. Page 282, paragraph 3. It seems to be pretty well estab- 

 lished that where flocks are given the same number of square feet of 

 floor space per hen, the smaller flocks' will give the largest maximum 

 yield of eggs. This is because each hen has more independence of 

 action and feels more contented. She is usually given more individual 

 attention by the attendant, also. Small flocks, however, require too 

 much labor. Therefore, the tendency of the time on large commercial 

 plants is to keep fowls in larger and larger flocks. The large flocks 

 seem to result in the largest net profit. Just how large flocks can be 



Fig. 348. — -A more advanced stage. 



kept to. the best advantage is yet to be determined. From fifty to sixty 

 seems to be the best sized flock, all things considered. Nevertheless, 

 men are succeeding well with flocks of from one to two hundred. With 

 these very large flocks, especial care must be taken to carefully grade 

 the flocks according to size and vigor and greater care must be exercised 

 in regular and liberal feeding, in order that the weaker shall not suffer 

 in a struggle with the stronger individuals. There is always an advan- 

 tage that comes to each fowl in a large flock which does not come to 

 the fowls in smaller flocks provided all Iiave the same number of square 

 feet of floor space, which is that in large flocks, each hen has a larger 

 actual floor space in which to live giving her more freedom. 



