CARE OF POULTRY 351 



without artificial heat and is being used successfully by many 

 poultrymen. 



2. Housing. — All kinds of poultry do best when they have 

 full liberty, as this is their natural state, but it is often neces- 

 sary to keep them yarded. In such cases there should be many 

 yards and few fowls in a flock. Not more than 25 chickens 

 should be kept together, and 15 is a better number. A house 

 having a floor measurement of 10 by 12 feet and a runway 

 of 20 by 100 feet is desirable for such a flock. In locating 

 houses and yards one should seek a southern exposure. This 

 gives the largest amount of sunshine and shields somewhat 

 from the winds. The houses and yards should have good 

 drainage and be kept thoroughly clean. It is difficult to keep 

 chickens that are penned up free from lice. Dusting-boxes 

 filled with road dust should be provided. A large box accom- 

 modating several hens at a time is best. The hens should 

 also be dusted with insect powder occasionally. During the 

 summer, if hens have freedom, they will provide their own 

 dusting-places, but in winter even free hens should have a 

 box of dust. 



The chicken mite is also a troublesome insect. Unlike the 

 louse, the mite stays on the roos ting-place in the daytime and 

 feeds on the bodies at night. Painting the roosts with some 

 one of the coal-tar dips will destroy the mite. 



3. Feeding. — In the feeding of poultry, as in the feeding of 

 other live stock, the general principles mentioned in the chap- 

 ter on Feeding apply. Young birds and laying hens need 

 a ration with a narrow nutritive ratio, while fattening birds 

 require a ration having a wide nutritive ratio. Laying hens 

 should have grain, vegetables, and animal food. During 

 summer, if they have freedom, the hens will supply their own 



