LARGE POULTRY FARMS. 



155 



them, but have to allot themselves out from 

 house to house, however closely they may be 

 together. Without such houses it would be 

 difficult to see how operations could be carried 

 on on the scale they are. What are known as 

 the Well Farm Poultry Runs are certainly 

 unique. Here 3,250 laying hens and male birds 

 are kept on ten acres for one year on the arable 

 land. Three men look after these, and, besides, 

 up to as many as 3,500 chickens of all ages, 

 but at times the assistance of a pupil is also 

 required. 



The whole plant has been evolved from 

 much careful thought, and the practical ex- 

 perience of years is embodied in it. There are 

 sixteen large runs, each containing about 135 

 birds (125 hens and 10 cocks), and forty-three 

 apex houses. The following diagram clearly 

 shows the plan upon which the ground is laid 

 out : — • 



The small outside runs contain the forty- 

 three apex houses, fifteen being down each side, 

 and thirteen in front, and consist of 300 square 

 yards. In the large runs are ten small houses, 

 ten detached large nesting boxes, and three 

 dusting-sheds, and they have an area of 3,000 

 square yards. As regards the floors of these 

 houses, those of the apex type have first a layer 

 of earth placed in them and then a layer of 



peat moss, which keeps well for twelve months. 

 The small houses are placed on the bare earth 

 and are moved weekly. Each apex house 

 accommodates 25 birds, thus allowing the 

 poultry to be kept at the rate of 400 fowls to 

 the acre. As, however, the birds spend much of 

 their time in the large houses, the ground keeps 

 perfectly well for one year. In the igio season 

 one man re-erected the pens in nine days, and 

 it is thought that in future only eight days will 

 be required for this work, which is done in the 

 autumn. The ordinary staff moved the houses 

 and took down the wire-netting in the same 

 time. This meant that all the houses and birds 

 were moved some 400 to 500 yards, that being 

 the distance from the new pens to the old ones. 

 Just about seventy rolls of wire-netting are 

 required for the pens. 



]Mr. Toovey's poultry-farm was commenced 

 in 1899 in a very small way, and has grown 

 year iDy year. It is, however, not intended to 

 develop it further, since to do so would mean 

 interference with other agricultural arrange- 

 ments on the farm. Mr. Toovey is of opinion 

 that poultry-farming is very little understood 

 at present by the majority of poultry keepers, 

 and more especially self-styled " experts." 

 Those engaged in poultry keeping operations 

 at King's Langley find that they learn some- 

 thing new about the subject every year. 



Stocking a farm largely devoted to egg- 

 production calls for some judgment. Table 

 quality is here not the first con- 

 sideration by any means ; but yet 

 it is of some importance, for cock- 

 erels and hens will have to be marketed, unless 

 disposable as breeding stock. Size of eggs 

 must also be taken into consideration, and even 

 the colour, since brown eggs fetch a better 

 price in this country. Leghorns and Anconas, 

 hardy as they are, rather discount a market in 

 these points, and among crosses to be recom- 

 mended, the Houdan with Minorca, Leghorn, 

 or Buff Orpington, deserve attention as either 

 giving table quality or colour to the eggs. The 

 layers must either be found by observation, 

 or in a farm of this kind it may be worth while 

 to employ trap-nests. 



Whatever differences there may be in many 

 points of management, care should be taken 

 to make up a flock of hens or pullets of the 

 same age, and about the same time of hatching. 

 This is essential towards being able to manage 

 the entire flock as a unit ; otherwise every single 

 bird has to be watched, which greatly increases 

 care and anxiety. When, on the other hand, 

 all are of similar age and breed, if one or two 

 show signs of ceasing to lav, or of moult 



The 



Stock. 



