MANAGEMENT 109 
Changing Litter. After the birds have 
been housed two or three weeks additional 
litter, such as shavings with a layer of straw 
or cheap, coarse hay, should be used. This 
deep litter should be maintained throughout 
the winter. Whenever the litter becomes 
somewhat dirty from droppings, or if it be- 
comes damp, it should be cleaned out. This, 
under average conditions, should be every 
five or six weeks. At this cleaning time all 
of the litter should be removed, the house 
swept out, and new shavings and straw put 
in. This may be done at any time during 
the day, if care is taken not to disturb or 
frighten the hens. 
No Yards Necessary. In the system of 
management which is followed by the author 
no yards for the laying hens are used. While 
this is contrary to general practice, it has 
worked out nicely. 
The feeding of the hens or pullets under 
this system is more nearly under the control 
of the feeder. For example, if in the early 
spring the birds have access to a yard in 
which there is plenty of green feed growing 
and if there comes a spell of cold, raw, rainy 
