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same height of fence was required, this extra cost of fencing 

 would not be considerable, and would be insignificant when com- 

 pared with the saving in labor effected by giving ample yard room ; 

 but it will be found that as yards are enlarged the height of the 

 fence can be reduced, and thus it may be actually cheaper to make 

 the larger yards. I have this year kept Dorkings with a fence 

 only 3 feet high, and never had one of them attempt to go out, 

 though they can easily fly a fence 5 or 6 feet high. Their yard 

 is just as good as what lies beyond, and they are always fed there, 

 so there is no temptation to go out. 



When properly reckoned, the actual cost of large yards is not a 

 heavy tax on the poultry keeper, and, comparatively, the smaller 

 yard always costs more per enclosed surface. It costs a little more 

 to build four two-section houses than to build one eight-section 

 house, but the difference is not great. In yards of about the di- 

 mensions given as desirable, some a little larger, some a little 

 smaller, I keep from 20 to 30 Light Brahmas, the number varying 

 according to conditions and to the stock on hand. I aim not to 

 have more hens in a yard than will leave it in this condition : For 

 15 to 25 feet from the house the ground will be quite bare ; beyond 

 this to about midway of the length of the yard the grass will be 

 generally good, but short; the other half of the yard will have 

 quite long grass, long enough to conceal grain thrown in it, and 

 require the hens to hunt and scratch for their grain just as they do 

 for the various wild seeds they find when foraging far and wide on 

 open range. I am away from home nearly always through the 

 day, and frequently not home until after feeding time in the even- 

 ing. Occasionally I am away for two or three days or a week at 

 a time. So I had to make such conditions for my fowls that they 

 could be cared for with the least possible work, and would not 

 suffer from inexperienced or irregular feeding. The hens get a 

 mash in the morning, and often the noon feed of grain is scattered 

 in the grass immediately after the mash is fed. That would be 

 done regularly, were it not that the grain lying about attracts too 

 many pigeons and sparrows. But whenever it would be incon- 

 venient for the folks at the house to feed at noon, grain is given 

 in the grass right after the morning mash, and, the hens having 

 been given a supply of water for the day, there is no need of any 

 one going near them again until evening. They can get along and 

 keep in good condition without other green food and animal food 

 than they get in the yards ; but I like to give both hens and chicks 

 all the meat they can stand, so feed beef scrap in mash regu- 

 larly. The fowls at some time or other get all the waste green 

 stuff from the garden ; but in giving it I can consult my own con- 



