THE ILLII^TOIS F^K]M:ER. 



307 



ROOSTIMG 



FEEDING 



ROOM S 



ROOMS 



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M l 



VBUUU 



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Nests. — It is not essential to success that 

 the nests should be on the ground, though 

 we always so construct them for the use of 



some of our hens, in 



conformity with the 



general observation, 



that hens when left to 



^. their own choice usual- 



^ Ij do so. But whether 



^ on the ground or raised 



somewhat above it, they 



should be warm and partially secluded. 



The hen likes privacy, and if left to follow 

 her own natural instincts, will seek some 

 shrubbery thicket, tuft of grass or rank 

 weeds, ii out of doors, or in the manger of a 

 shed — in short, almost anywhere, if she can 

 escape the gaze of man or animal. To hu- 

 mor this propensity, we propose to lattice the 

 front of tlic nest boxes, with small strips of 

 lath, which not only give them upparant se- 

 crecy, but admit air, so desirable in hot wea- 

 ther. Why we give preference to latticed 

 fronts to close boxes, is by reason of the con- 

 stant circulation of air going on through the 

 interstices. This has much more to do with 

 the comfort of the hens, and the perspective 

 of "counting the chickens before they are 

 hatched," than many people are aware of. — 

 In nine cases out of tea laying and sitting 

 boxes are too hut, dose and dry. Draw a 

 comparison, if you please, between them and 

 a stolen, or if you will, more natural nest, 

 in the open air. Which of the two are no- 

 torious lor producing a numerous liimily of 

 healthy chickens. 



The style and form of the nest boxes must 

 be determined by the size and kind of iowls 

 for whicli they are designed. If for large 

 A.siatic fowls, the boxes must be made low 

 and easy of access, so that the hens will not 

 be obliged to fly up to got into them. The 

 boxes al.<o should be shallow, so that the 

 hens need not hop down from the rini, as in 

 that case they are liable to break the eggs. 

 Sometimes iK'sts are fixtures built against 

 the wall, not unlike pigeon holes on a large 

 scale. The lirst or lower tier may be on the 

 ground, and each appartment slumld be 

 eighteen inches square and two feet high, I 

 suitable for the larger sized variety of fowls. 

 The next or second tier may be twelve by i 

 thirteen inches, and eighteen inches higl). I 

 This tier, being six inches narrower, may be ' 

 set back six inches on the lower one, by ' 

 which a ledge is formed for the hens to ; 

 alight when seeking their nests. If more j 

 tiers are tidded, narrow shelves may be placed j 

 in front of each box, with a ladder for as- \ 

 ccnding to each tier. The opening should i 

 be zigzag, not over one another. This form ! 

 of nests will admit of being extended to any ; 

 length or number of tiers recjuired; the top \ 

 sloping at an angle of forty-dve degrees to 

 prevent the fowls roosting on it. Tiicre is, 

 however, one objiction to these tier nests, 

 which we have noticed in our experience. 



It is tliis : when a sitting hen has left her 

 nost to procure her food, drink, etc., one of 

 the laying hens would espy the eggs, pop in 

 and deposit her egg. In the meantime tiie 

 hatching hen would return and discover her 

 nest occupied, and finding it no easy matter 

 to eject the intruder — for possession, with 

 hens, like men, is considered nine points of 

 law — would seek the first nest she ■'.jould find 

 vacant and settle herself on them very con- 

 tentedly. The consequence was the other 

 hen, after depositing her egg, would leave 

 the nest, and the eggs would cool and spoil. 

 There is another difficulty. If vermin should 

 make their appearance, as they often do 

 while the hen is sitting, there is no sure 

 way of getting at them or cleaning the nests. 

 To remedy this in regard to the vermin, we 

 would recommend the nests to be made in 

 the form of shallow drawers in place of the 

 boxes. These may be inserted into the 

 spaces. By this arrangement, if the nests 

 become foul, and require cleansing, they are 

 easily removed and freed from those most 

 annoying pests, hen-lice, when occasion re- 

 quires. 



Having disposed of the house, both exter- 

 nal and internal, we will now proceed with 

 the yard. The size of the yard may be 

 made to suit the fancy or convenience of the 

 ownerj but, from our experience, the larger 

 the better, not less than one acre, well cov- 

 ered with grass, to every hundred fowls. — 

 Here is one great cause of failure in rearing 

 poultry in inclosurcs. We have often noti- 

 ced on large farms small, seven by nine pens, 

 without grass or any green thing. Under 

 such circumstances, it is no wonder their 

 fowls would sicken and die. 



The yard should, if possible, be of a grav- 

 elly or sandy character, and a little sloping, 

 that it may be dry, as moisture is a most des- 

 tructive enemy of poultry. The yard should 

 be well ienced; close on the north side; also, 

 for three feet all around, and four feet of 

 pickets, which will made it seven feet high. 

 Sheds to protect the fowls from storms; 

 should be ercted against the north or west 

 fence, sloping back or outwardly. If there 

 is a bank or side hill on the north side of the 

 lot, place the house there. To make it warm 

 in winter and cool in summer, excavate the 

 bank sufficient to cover the back wad, which 

 should be of stone eighteen inches thick and 

 laid in mortar. If the bank be not very 

 steep, the bottom may be sunk three or four 

 feet in front. The back wall may be from 

 nine to ten feet high, and the roof may pitch 

 both ways, or shed at the ends, presenting a 

 gable end in front, which maj- be of glass or 

 not, to suit the notions of the proprietor. — 

 If the roof is of shingles, let the spaces be- 

 tween the rafters be lined and filled in with 

 tan, saw dust, or fine charcoal; but a good 

 thatched roof would be prei'erable. The in- 

 ternal arrangement may be similar to the one 

 heretofore described. 



As we have a house, yard and accommo- 

 dations prepared, we will now attend to our 

 breeding stock. Without allusion to any 

 particular variety, we will enter upon some 

 general remarks in this department. In 

 choosing stock select young fowls, and, if 

 ])0s.^ible, from such as have been remarka- 

 ble for good laying and thrift. After one 

 season you vrill be able to select eggs from 



your own stock of such desirable qualities; 

 they may be att-iined by care and time, as 

 well as any peculiarity of plumage you may 

 fancy. Good fowls maybe of any color, but 

 to have none but good and handsome ones 

 will require time and attention ia .selecting; 

 and as they are no more trouble or expense 

 than inferior ones, they arc worth picking 

 for. There are some fowls much more des- 

 tructive than others, always scratching and 

 restless — we have often seen and heard it 

 remarked; those who understand these mat- 

 ters will confirm it. Selecting is a matter of 

 some importance, since the quality of your 

 poultry may be much improved by attention 

 to this subject. 



First wdl come their disposition for lay- 

 ing. Some may be found to produce many 

 more eggs in a given time than others. — 

 The best step to attain this object is to raise 

 pullets from hens conspicuous for this qual- 

 ity, preferring those of the same shape and 

 Color as the hens. For laying properties, 

 the following are noted : Black Spanish, 

 Hamburg, black Poland, and all the family 

 of Bantams. But for all purposes, laying, 

 quality of flesh, hardihood, and good breed- 

 ers, give me the common Dominique fowl, 

 which maybe found in most all yards through 

 the country. The figure below is a fair rep- 

 resentation of the cock : 



Shape and Size. — There is much more 

 in this than at first appears; good dressed 

 fowls, killed and prepared for market, will 

 look like most other perfect things — better 

 for seeing more of them. And here the 

 Dorking fowl stands pre-eminent. A long 

 necked, long legged, thin made fowl can 

 scarcely be made fat, and thon will not look 

 as well as the plump, square and full breasted 

 ones with short legs; neither are they so 

 quiet and thrifty. They do not sit so steady 

 but their long legs are active in the opera- 

 tion of searching out potatoes, fresh planted 

 corn, and other seed— habits seldom required 

 or desirable. 



Fattening. — Of all modes the best for 

 obtainin<x flavor and nutriment is a run at 

 large, with abundance of food. On a large 

 farm there will be sufficient food to fatten a 

 great number from the waste and droppings 

 of other stock of food that would otherwise 

 be lost; and here by a little care may pro- 

 duce a handsome sum in cash, and bounti- 

 fully supply tlie house with eggs and chick- 

 ens; and who docs not like to see a variety 

 of pretty fowls about a place, enlivening the 

 retirement, and, by their early summons, 



