109 



The free range plan can be applied to the colony system as well as to 

 continuous housing except when it is desirable to fence off individual 

 houses for several birds, or when a number of different varieties are 

 being reared. 



Fences are expensive and increase labor. To fence separate yards for 

 the pens in Fig. 33 would require 185 rods of fence and would cost about 

 one hundred and fifty dollars. Every time a division fence is taken out 

 each flock has twice as much liberty as it had before. When all the 

 division fences are removed each flock enjoys sixteen times as much as 



500' 



North 



FIG. 53. Colony houses and yards can 

 be arranged to save steps 



FIG. 54. Make yards long and 

 narrow 



it had before. The labor of cultivating and seeding sixteen yards is 

 much greater than it would be if all were in one field. 



When several fowls are kept or when many small pens are desired, the 

 plans given in Figs. 53 and 54 will save steps. If the best approach is 

 from the north it would be better to have the house on the west at B 

 instead of at A. The shape of the fields or strip of land or the location 

 of the farm buildings will have much to do with the shape of the yard. 

 If yards can be made, they should be sufficiently long and narrow to per- 

 mit of easy cultivation. Two yards two rods wide and eight rods long 

 furnish a well-shaped run for fifty hens, although more land would be 

 better. This will allow a row of trees in the center for shade, which is 

 necessarv. 



