194 



CANADIAN FARM YEAR BOOK. 



is placed at the back of tlie ibuildiiig, 

 about three feet above the floor. The 

 roosts are made of dresesd scantling, 

 3x3 inch, a.bout six inches above 

 dropping board. A curtain is arrang 

 ed to ibe let down on cold nights in 

 'front of the roosts. This house is 

 practically open to the weather at 

 the front, which faces the south. The 

 end's of the house are simply matched 

 lumber. This house may appear to 

 be cold, but it has been found that too 

 warm quarters for chickens are un- 

 healthy and conducive to disease. 

 There aire canvas curtains that cgin 

 be dropped as a protection during the 

 cold nights. 



This house is cheap of construction, 

 and has given excellent results during 

 the laying Sicason. Do not heep hogs 

 too near the hen-house. A cement 

 foundation and a cement floor for the 

 hen-house may seem like an unneces- 

 sary expenditure, but it is found to be 

 worth it. The above plans are from 

 Bulletin 189, Ontario Agricultural 

 College. 



Turkeys, except when very young, 

 should not Ibe cooped u por hous^Bd^ 

 but allowed iwide range to forage. 



we must, first of all, have our hens 

 bred itio lay. Nothing can make a non- 

 layer produce eggs if she is not bred , 

 for production. The keynote of effi- 

 ciency on the poultry farm lies in cull- 

 ing out the poor layers. Layers going 

 in in iSepterh'ber lay in November — ^De- 

 cember. Cull out at that time. Again 

 in midsummer after the heavy spring 

 egg production is over. Then again in 

 July. Then select for breeders, for 

 next season. Dispose of the poor lay- 

 ers all this time — they are no good for 

 breeders. 



full breasted 

 ss bred chick. 



They will seek and find a great por- 

 tion of their food. Roosting houses 

 are considered unnecessary by many 

 successful turkey raisers. If used, 

 they must be well ventilated. Turkeys 

 do not reach their full maturity until 

 the third season. Birds should not be 

 used for breeding purposes before 

 their second year. 



EFFICIENCY IN PRODUCTION. 



For efficiency to poultry manage- 

 ment, i.e., the production of eggs, etc., 



Identifying the Poor Layers. 



How to tell good from poor layers. 

 Really the trap nests are the only ab- 

 solutely sure w^ay, yet there are other 

 methods that are very certain indica- 

 tions. 1. Time of moulting. Color ot 

 ear lobes, and color of shank. The 

 first applies to all kinds of hens. If 

 raised and hatched under equal con- 

 ditions, the hen moulting last is the 

 best producer. 2. Applies to Ibreed 

 with white ear lolbes and yellow 

 shanks. "The Leghorns,- single comb- 

 ed, are an example and are, I 'believe, 

 the greatest egg machine in exist- 

 ence." We want eggs when they are 

 high priced. PuHets laying in October 

 lay well throughout fall, ibut may fall 

 off during earlj^ -winter. 'Layers can 

 'be picked out in the white ear lobed 

 yellow shanked 'breed. The layers 

 are the birds v^hose ear lobes have 

 turned snow white to light yeUow in 

 color. Those hens whose ear lobes 

 are bright yellow at that time are the 

 poor 'layers. It is well known that 

 hens lay the pigment into their eggs. 

 3. Color of sihanks. This does not 

 change so rapidly. 'Early August is 

 what may 'be termed the second color 

 period. The yellow shanked hens 

 Note resemblance show some with bright yellOw shanks, 

 and others with light yellow shanks. 

 The latter are the hens that Jtiave (been 

 laying. 



Production in Season. 

 The problem is one of production; 

 to sell the produce, especially eggs, is 

 a comparatively simple matter.^ After 

 ■the production idea comes the import- 

 ant 'business of time of hatching. Get 

 eggs in October-Novem'ber-December- 

 January, when eggs are the highest 

 priced. For a high average, pulleits 

 are largely used. "We have made a 

 net profit of 90c in December per head 



Son of fowl No. 



