50 CHOOSING A POULTRY FARM 



5. The use of a driven well and compression storage tank oper- 

 ated by a gasoline engine will be found an efficient and economical 

 method of furnishing water where natural sources are absent. 



The one point of most importance in laying out a water system 

 is to take the water from above the plant and carry the waste 

 water below, thus doing away with contamination. The more 

 naturally this system can be brought about, the more desirable 

 is the location, as a greater economy in labor and equipment is 

 secured. 



Size and Shape of Land. — The area of land secured will 

 largelj^ influence the system of housing and yarding which will 

 be followed. A farm of forty or fifty acres will allow of develop- 

 ing an immense business on the colony plan, as well as giving 

 ample space for growing much of the feed at home. A farm of four 

 or five acres will take care of approximately 1000 layers on a very 

 intensive community basis, and provide range for raising yoimg 

 chicks. No feed except pasture can be grown on such a small area. 



If possible, some land on the place should be in trees, prefer- 

 ably fruit trees, so as to have shade available. Artificial shade 

 can be constructed, but it is not as satisfactory as the cool, moist 

 shade provided by growing trees. 



The shape of the land is an important factor. A square lot 

 of land has the following advantages over a long, rectangular one: 



1. If the area is large, it is better to place the buildings in 

 the centre near the dwelling house and work the farm all ways 

 from this centre location, thus saving much time which would 

 be spent in going long distances many times a day to do the work, 

 as is required when the farm is narrow and the bui? dings located 

 at one end. 



2. It is practically impossible to have all the flock constantly 

 under the eye of the attendant when they are too scattered; the 

 danger from loss b}^ hawks and thieves of all kinds is apt to be 

 much greater. 



3. If the plant can be planned to have all the runs arranged 

 as nearly as possible in the form of squares, the cost for fencing 

 and posts will be less and the amount of green feed grown in them 

 will last much longer than in long, narrow yards. 



Plan of the Plant. — The common systems of poultry keeping 

 which have given success in all parts of the country may be classi- 

 fied as follows: Community, Semi-community, and Colony 

 Systems (Fig; 31). 



