NEW SYSTEMS IN POULTRY FARMING. l6l 



the originator. I am indebted to " Poultry Secrets " 

 (published by Farm Journal) for this information. 



Several years ago a system which colonized units 

 of six hens in separate coops, keeping them indoors 

 the entire year, was extensively advertised. These 

 coops measured three feet in width, and six feet in 

 length; and although they measured but four feet to 

 the eaves (five feet to the gable) they were two stories 

 high ; the upper floor was used for roosting and laying, 

 and the ground floor for scratching purposes. * Harriet 

 did not take kindly to the scheme in the first place, 

 and predicted failure, and so it seems to have turned 

 out. She believes in economizing labor so that she 

 may give her flocks the best of care, which cannot be 

 done if she has too many " flocks of six " to look after. 



About the same time the "fire-less" brooders came 

 into prominence. There is some virtue in that idea, 

 but not for real cold weather. For spring brooding I 

 like them better than heated brooders. A regular nest 

 of hay is made in the brooder, and over the top are 

 pads of cotton or woolen goods. When the chicks 

 creep into the nests, this covering touches their backs 

 and the animal heat of the youngsters is retained, 

 keeping them warm. 



The greatest "sensation" came when the sprouted 

 oats idea was launched. While the sprouted or pro- 

 cessed oats secret has been known to the poultry world 

 for years, it never received more than passing notice 

 until one enterprising fellow wrote a book which he 

 sold at $2 .00 a copy, and which was advertised to con- 

 tain a secret for " feed at fifteen cents a bushel." This 

 assertion, coming at a time when feed was going higher 



