MANAGEMENT OF FOWLS 85 



cost of production. In this section we consider the best methods 

 of securing this result when all the old stock is to be kept as one 

 flock. Old stock and young ought always to be separated unless 

 the old birds constitute an insignificant portion of the flock. 



Single houses for farm flocks. It is as true on a farm as else- 

 where that the greatest yields of eggs and the best growth in 

 young birds are secured when the flock is divided into small 

 groups. But a farm flock of the class under consideration, 

 while it makes its headquarters in such buildings as may be 



FIG. 82. Good poultry house on Texas farm. (Photograph from Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture) 



provided, will forage a considerable distance in every direction, 

 going among growing crops from which the larger farm ani- 

 mals must be excluded, and also following the larger animals in 

 their stables, yards, and pastures and picking up food left by 

 them. As fowls also eat many weeds and seeds of weeds, 

 and all kinds of destructive insects, the advantages of letting 

 them run at large more than make up for lower production. 

 Also the production is normal and can be easily maintained 

 from year to year in the same line of stock, while high pro- 

 duction secured by extra care is forced and can be maintained 



