WINTER MANAGEMENT OF THE LAYERS 



273 



an abundance of material at hand for use as litter, such as straw, 

 cheap hay, leaves, or cut corn stover. Of these four materials, 

 grain straw is undoubtedly the best; leaves crush quickly and do 

 not hide the grain, while cut corn stover is rather coarse, the 

 birds have a tendency to eat it, and this often produces a trouble 

 known as " crop bound." 



On the large commercial poultry plants where litter must be 

 purchased, one method is to use planer shavings, which can be 

 bought by the bale, mixed with the same proportion of wheat, oat, 

 or rye straw. This mixture lasts longer than straw alone, is always 

 loose and porous, does not 

 pack, and the droppings dry 

 up quickly. By adding a lit- 

 tle fresh material from time 

 to time a well-ventilated house 

 will not need frequent clean- 

 ing. 



Spraying the Interior of the 

 House. Before the birds are 

 put in the laying house in the 

 fall, and again each spring, 

 each pen should be given a 

 thorough cleansing, which 

 means the removal of all 

 portable fixtures and placing 

 them in the sun for a few 

 hours, as well as the spraying 

 of the interior of the house 

 and fixtures with a good dis- 

 infecting solution (Fig. 138). 

 A good mixture is one con- 

 taining lime to whiten the house, a disinfectant which will kill 

 disease germs, and kerosene or crude oil to kill mites. This is very 

 desirable, as it accomplishes three purposes with one application. 

 (See Chapter XXVIII.) 



Careful Attention to Details Necessary. The poultryman should 

 always bear his birds in mind and make special efforts to meet 

 all changes in weather. Keep the house as dry as possible by 

 closing the curtains and windows on stormy days, especially if 

 the wind is from such a quarter that it will blow directly into the 

 house; also protect the birds from extremely cold weather by means 

 18 



FIG. 138. A simple and efficient disinfecting 

 outfit. 



