KIND OF HOUSE TO BUILD 203 



ing to fence a given area in a rectangular yard than in a 

 square yard. The estimates of yard space vary from 20 

 to 100, or more, square feet per fowl. For 100 hens the 

 size of yard under favorable soil conditions, should not be 

 less than 20 square feet per fowl with a double yard, making 

 40 square feet as a minimum. 



Double Yards. Where fowls are kept yarded the only 

 practical method of keeping the yards clean or to lessen 

 the danger of soil contamination, is to furnish at least two 

 yards for each flock. If the long, continuous house be used 

 and it is divided into small pens it will be better to have 

 the yards on each side of the house, rather than two yards 

 on one side, in order to get width enough in the yards for 

 cultivation. The yards being shorter and wider, less fenc- 

 ing will be required. Where the yards are too small for 

 horse cultivation, spading will have to be resorted to. 



Portable Fence. Portable fences may be used, such as 

 illustrated on page 204. When the fowls are moved from 

 one yard to another the fences are moved, so that half the 

 amount of fence is needed, as for permanent fences. They 

 take half the amount of wire, save the digging of post-holes 

 and the cost of posts. In the case of continuous houses, 

 with yards on each side, the fence is moved from one side 

 of the house to the other, leaving the old ground open and 

 free for cultivation. This saves in the cost of labor in 

 cultivating. More labor, however, is required to build the 

 portable fence, and the moving of them once or twice a year 

 is likely to damage them somewhat, but if built of good 

 heavy material they will last a number of years. 



Portable System for the Farm. On the general farm 

 where 50 or 100 hens are kept, the portable fence plan may 

 be used to advantage where it is necessary to fence in the 

 fowls, as, for example, during seeding time and while the 

 grain is getting a start. Part of a grain field may be used 



