IO2 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



it tried often, and it never has done so. On such a system, 

 the fewer fowls are kept the less the owner will lose by 

 them; and there is no more to be said about it. Rather 

 than attempt such a half-system as this, it will be better to 

 go on in more the old style, with a limited number in the 

 farmyard. Even here, by killing all the old fowls at once, 

 and thereafter killing them before they get old, with 

 judicious selection, and more systematic looking after the 

 eggs all which may be carried out by a wife or daughter 

 without difficulty some profit may be got out of the fowls, 

 instead of the certain loss which they are on many farms. 

 But we are here more especially considering the cases in 

 which it is determined to make them a part of the regular 

 business of the establishment. 



The needful separation into flocks will generally be 

 easily managed on a farm. Fowls have a strong sense of 

 locality, and in the main will keep to their own field ; 

 and as a rule the simplest plan will be to put the hedges 

 and fences in fair repair, and then let each field have its 

 own flock. The house can go anywhere convenient 

 probably in a corner, where the fencing is good. A very 

 large field will often take a house and flock in each corner, 

 for one flock should not exceed twenty-five. Some practical 

 men prefer movable houses on wheels, the locality of which 

 is moved occasionally ; and one or two of these should 

 always be used on arable farms, as they can be moved out to 

 the stubble after harvest. One farmer we knew made a hard 

 concrete floor for each house, and kept it in one place ; this 

 is least trouble as regards the manure. On .many farms 

 there are buildings here and there, opening out to different 

 parts of the farm, which can be utilised. The great thing 

 is, in the cheapest but some effectual way to break up the 

 system of letting all mix indiscriminately in the farmyard. 



The fowls will, be it remembered, absolutely benefit the 



