GROWING POULTRY 



273 



economize the cost of equipment and labor by making the groups as 

 large as possible. In a properly heated and ventilated brooder the 

 number of young birds may be much larger than in the natural 

 group, but must still be small compared with the seeming capacity 

 of the compartment. Common experience has taught the neces- 

 sity of keeping young poultry of all kinds in comparatively small 

 groups, wholly or partly separated, either by partitions or fences 

 or by distance. This is the general practice in the communities 

 where poultry growing is most flourishing. 



The poultry farmer in Rhode Island keeps his chickens in flocks 

 of from twenty-five to thirty-five. The grower of winter chick- 

 ens in eastern Massachusetts 



FIG. 310. A part of Fig. 309, 



showing more plainly how the colonies are distributed 



usually keeps them, after weaning, in flocks of fifty. That is the stand- 

 ard, though occasionally from seventy-five to one hundred may be 

 put into a house large enough to accommodate them. In both cases 

 the coops and houses used give small floor space per chicken but are 

 open and well ventilated, allowing an abundant supply of fresh air. 

 In any coop or house the floor is renovated as often as necessary by 

 removing accumulated droppings. If the floor is of earth a part of 

 the floor is removed with the droppings, and a new floor of earth 

 may be put into the house at regular intervals. If the floor is of 

 wood it may be covered with a coating of earth or litter. As long 

 as the droppings in the house or coop remain dry, they do no harm. 

 Out of doors suitable sanitary conditions are not so easily main- 

 tained. It is natural to suppose that if poultry can remain night 

 after night on a suitable floor containing the nightly accumulations 



