8 



BULLETIN No. 215. 



rf/fo/fa or C/ovcr 



Corn or Sunf/ower 



side is left as an open field in which the hens run during sum- 

 mer after the breeding season, and, being accustomed to their 

 pens, the majority of them return to their own places without 

 trouble. While they are occupying the north yard, the south 



yard is cultivated and sown to 

 a crop of buckwheat and rye 

 to sweeten the ground and 

 furnish fall and spring past- 

 ure. This sowing would be 

 done on most farms late in 

 June or early in July. The 

 space immediately north , of 

 the house is more likely to be- 

 come contaminated. It is, 

 therefore, desirable to grow a 

 crop of some kind on this 

 each year. Corn or sunflow- 

 ers are grown on many farms 

 as the corn is planted early 

 and attains considerable size 

 before the hens are turned 

 on. The result is that the hens 

 secure shade in the corn field 

 and get an abundance of 

 green stuff from the alfalfa 

 or clover at the back of the 

 yard. This yard at the back 

 may be mowed and a good 

 crop of hay secured. Just what can be accomplished, of course, 

 depends to a great extent upon the character of the soil found 

 in the yard. The principal thing is to keep it constantly culti- 

 vated so as to get rid of filth as much as possible. 



The continuous house without partitions should be yarded on 

 both north and south. This type of house, of course, is less 

 expensive as there are no inside fences in the yard. The prin- 

 cipal disadvantage of this system is that the hens crowd to the 

 end of tne house at feeding time unless hopper feeding is used 

 almost exclusively. Expert care is needed to keep such a large 

 number of hens from acquiring bad habits. An expert can care 

 for a large flock, but an amateur might better care for fewer 

 hens and give them more individual attention. 



L ong Poultry tlouse 



Figure 4. Long Poultry House With Yards 

 in Front and Open Field Behind. 



