POULTRY KEEPING AND BEEKEEPING 



219 



Another essential generally recognized is that some of the 

 food should be given in such a way as to require exercise 

 on the part of the fowl to ob- 

 tain it. This is brought about 

 by throwing grain in a litter 

 of straw or other material, 

 which the fowls are obliged to 

 scratch over in order to obtain 

 the food. 



HOME PROJECT 25 



Purpose. To take charge of 

 a small flock of chickens. 



Directions, i. If some one at 

 your home keeps chickens, per- 

 haps arrangements can be made 

 for you to take entire charge of 

 a small flock. Or perhaps you 

 can start anew. Either fall or 

 spring is a good time to begin, 

 with a few setting hens and raise chicks. In the fall a small 

 flock of pullets may be secured. It pays to get good stock even 

 if it costs a little more. Look up some good book on poultry and 

 try to care for the flock in the very best way. Try a trap nest 

 for at least one month in the winter. Make special effort to 

 get eggs in the winter, for that is the time when they are worth 

 the most, and the ability to get winter eggs is one of the tests 

 of successful poultry keeping. 



2. Two types of records may be kept : one a careful descrip- 

 tion of the steps taken in caring for the poultry; such points 

 as breed, number to start with, shelter provided, method of 

 feeding, raising young chicks, total number of eggs each month, 

 average number for each pullet. A second record should be kept 

 giving a statement of receipts and expenses. This may be kept 

 in some such form as the following. 



FIG. 79. A method of keeping drink- 

 ing fountain clean. 



In the spring one may start 



