54 POULTRY DISEASES 



they will dry very quickly after rains. The runs should he 

 thoroug:hly grassed over, or if on limited area the double 

 yardage system should he used and one yard sowed in rape 

 or oats while the other is Ix'ing used. 



BUILDINGS AND RUNS 



The runs to afford permanent grass must have an area of 

 150 square feet to each hen. A smaller area of Bermuda grass 

 will do for a hen. Fowls must be provided with green feed 

 the year round, and they must have animal protein and ex- 

 ercise. Birds should be kept in small units of about fifty birds 

 to the unit, and the house should be a portable style, and thus 

 the birds in small fiocks may be scattered over the farm. It 

 is found that fruit trees of all kinds are protected by fowls 

 running in the orchards. The fowls devour the insects and 

 worms that are harmful to the trees and at the same time 

 furnish themselves Avitli the needed animal protein. The same 

 is true of smaller fruits as grapes, among which shrubs the 

 birds may be kept at all seasons except while the fruit is 

 ripening. Fowls may be allowed to run in cotton fields, corn 

 fields, and in sugar beet fields — in fact, in any crop except the 

 smaller grains like wheat, rye and oats. Fowls rid stubble 

 fields such as wheat and oats after the crops have been re- 

 moved, of bugs and other insects, and thus make more favor- 

 able the growing of another crop the succeeding j^ear. Often 

 the youngsters on range can be used for this purpose, housing 

 them in portable poultry houses. These houses have under 

 them sled runners and are easily moved from place to place. 

 Grasshoppers can be gotten rid of by this means. At the same 

 time the fowls are provided with feed and make satisfactory 

 growth and thus profit. The slogan, ''fence the garden and 

 not the fowls," should be carried out. 



The house should have an open front. This open space 

 should be about thirty inches wide and nearly as long as the 

 house. In cold winter there should be provided a drop curtain 

 made of burlap or ducking to keep out much of the cold, but 

 at the same time always insure proper ventilation. The 

 house should face the south, so that the sun can gain access 

 to the interior at all times. The ground should slope from 

 the house so that water does not accumulate around the build- 

 ing. The floor may be made of dirt, cinders, cement or boards. 

 If of cement, there is needed ten inches of cinders or crushed 

 rock as a base and two to four inches of concrete on top of this. 

 The floor should be at least six inches al)ove the surrounding 

 ground. A cement floor constructed in tliis inanner will re- 



