14 METHODS OF ]'OULTRY MANAGEMENT, 



who has observed poultry will know how fond they are of con- 

 stantly being" near the house, and thus the greater portion of 

 their droppings falls within its immediate vicinity. The shape 

 of the run also has a great bearing upon the length of time it 

 will remain untainted, a long narrow run being much superior 

 to a square one. I have proved by my own experience how 

 true this is, and probably a long and narrow run, containing 

 the same amount of space will remain pure twice as long. It is 

 unnecessary here to go into a full explanation of why this is 

 so, but I may state the fact, which I am confident is quite cor- 

 rect. If the space at one's disposal is very limited it is a good 

 plan to divide it into two equal parts, placing the house in the 

 middle. During one year one-half would be available for the 

 fowls, the other being planted with some quickly growing 

 vegetables, the order being reversed the year following. The 

 vegetable growth has the effect of quickly using up the manure, 

 and in this manner quite a small plot of land can be heavily 

 stocked with poultry for an unlimited number of years." 



TV. EXERCISE. 



If poultry are to be in good condition, and maintain their 

 normal resistance to disease tJicy must exercise. As chicks they 

 will do this on the range. As adults (in climates like that of 

 Maine) the most feasible way to bring this about is to provide 

 litter and make the birds scratch for their feed. 



V. EXTERNAL PARASITES. 



In hygienic poultry keeping the birds must be kept reasonably 

 free at all times of lice, mites, and all other forms of external 

 parasites. The methods of dealing with this matter in use at 

 this Station are given in detail farther on. It is desired here 

 merely to call attention to the matter as one of the general prin- 

 ciples of hygienic poultry management. 



VI. DISPOSAL OF DEAD BIRDS. 



The poultry plant which does not have some dead birds to 

 dispose of from time to time has yet to be started. Just in con- 

 nection with the disposal of such dead birds is one of the weak- 

 est points in poultry sanitation as too commonly practiced. The 



