YARDING. 



As perfect sanitation is one of the prime requisites to success, 

 the larger the yards are the more easy it will be to maintain healthful 

 conditions among the flocks. If the yard areas must be small more 

 care will have to be exercised. While there is no fixed rule relative to 

 the amount of yard space required, if wholesome conditions are main- 

 tained one hundred and forty square feet per chicken will suffice. 



Yard fences are not invariably used. There may be exceptional 

 surroundings and special lines of production rendering them unneces- 

 sary. Single, double and triple yard systems are in use at the College. 

 The single yards, or those extending out from one side of the house 

 the width of the individual pen, are unsatisfactory, being too narrow, 

 thus rendering it difficult to use horses and implements with which to 

 cultivate and reseed. Green forage cannot be started in these yards 

 without confining the chickens or vacating the house. 



A well-managed and arranged poultry yard should be a part of every farmer's operations. 



Double yards, with one located on each side of the pen, are more 

 satisfactory. They can be used alternately during the season, with 

 chickens foraging on one yard while a fresh crop is being started in 

 the other, thus using the pen continuously, or the yard may be used 

 alternate years. Occasion may permit the combination of two ad- 

 jacent pens, thus allowing yards of double width, as in the case of a 

 commercial house with individual pens eighteen feet in width and the 

 adjoining yards thirty-six feet. This arrangement reduces the cost of 

 fencing considerably and greatly facilitates the working of the soil, 

 and in addition affords the chickens a greater amount of ranging area. 

 By this plan all cross fences can be eliminated should special con- 

 ditions permit. For long continuous houses double yards are most 

 satisfactory. Frequent cultivation of the yards and constant renewal 

 of forage crops are the main essentials in maintaining sanitary con- 

 ditions. 



