CONSTRUCTION 



the farmstead, there need be no special attention paid to this 

 particular feature, but the figures given above will be of 

 some value as a guide when it is desirable to keep the chick- 

 ens within an enclosure. 



Considerable difficulty will be found in keeping the 

 yards filled with green forage, which is excellent for the wel- 

 fare of the fowls, unless the chickens are confined for a time, 

 or the house and yards be vacated. If the yards be made 

 double the arrangement will be more satisfactory, since they 

 can then be used alternately during the season, with the 

 chickens foraging on one yard while a fresh crop is being 

 started in the other, thus using a pen continuously, or the 

 yard may be used in alternate years. Of course, with a 

 portable colony house which can be moved about, the neces- 

 sity of yarding young chickens is greatly relieved. Such 

 places as the farm lane, the orchard or mown meadow may 

 be utilized to furnish fresh soil, sunlight and shade and an 

 abundance of insects and other food conducive to the health- 

 ful condition and rapid growth of the fowls. 



Poultry keeping offers opportunities for both pleasure 

 and gain to both sexes, all ages, all walks in life, and in all 

 sections of the rountry. It may be made a profitable pleasure 

 alike in the country and in the city. It may be carried on as 

 an exclusive business, or a side line; it can be profitably 

 enjoyed by the poor and rich alike. As an exclusive business 

 it should be carried on in the country ; as a side line it may be 

 conducted on a small area of land afforded by a city or sub- 

 urban home lot. 



Fifteen 



