EcoxoMicAL Arran-gement of Bu/ldixgs. 



99 



ought to be able to feed, clean, and collect the eggs from more than twenty pens or yards ; but it 

 is after all merely an opinion, and liable to be disappointed. We would, however, say this much, that 

 to attempt reducing the labour by doubling the flocks will not answer. On this point there is 

 experience, both in England and the United States ; for it is found that in flocks of more than 

 about fifty the eggs produced decline, so that one hundred birds together will tiot lay double what 

 fifty will do. Even smaller numbers do better as regards laying considered alone ; but as labour 

 increases largely with every extra division, there is a mean point where the greatest economy 

 compared with product is reached ; and this by general experience we have fully satisfied ourselves 

 is about fifty birds in each pen or yard. 



In considering the buildings there is perhaps more room for hope. The advantages of the 

 plan we have given are manifest so far as regards simplicity, shelter for the attendant in wet 



fiet. 



Fig- 47- 



weather, . ."having of labour, and even economy in cost compared with the advantages in these 

 respects. But we stated in page 97 that by this plan more shedding was provided than was 

 needful ; and though this extra supply has its necessary uses, no doubt the needful roofed space 

 can be provided, in a cheaper form ; while it may also be thought the various arrangements of a 

 long shed might cause more draught than is desirable. Taking 300 fowls as a basis, we have 

 supposed for their shelter and other accommodation a double shed covering two hundred and 

 forty feet by fifteen feet, with a three-foot passage up the centre. But assuming the three acres 

 for the 300 fowls to be in the form of a parallelogram, measuring roughly about three hundred feet 

 by five hundred feet, although the shedding cannot be reduced by narrowing the runs much, else 

 the fowls would not utilise properly a slip of ground of such exaggerated length, yet by such an 

 arrangement as Pig. 47 the desired object may be attained ; and by giving to each flock of fifty a 

 house or shed twenty feet by fifteen feet precisely half the shedding may be made to suffice, and 

 that built in a still cheaper form ; whilst the line A B will afiford convenient means of communication 

 from one set of yards to another. Another advantage of such an arrangement will consist in the 

 comparative isolation of each 300 fowls from the others ; and the amount of shedding supposed 



