POULTRY HOUSES RECOMMENDED 45 
son is that the owners are enabled to get an 
open front fresh air scratching house which 
would be impracticable in small houses. 
There is no question that 1,000 hens divid- 
ed into flocks of 25 with the proper house 
and space, under proper management— 
would outlay the same 1,000 hens if bunched 
together in one big house. For this reason 
you must not compare the records you may 
see of the man whose 25 hens in his backyard 
have done remarkably well, with the results 
you hope to get from your 500 or 1,000 kept 
together, because there are several circum- 
stances that contribute to make a difference. 
The small flock, for instance, would have all 
the table scraps. This variety of diet makes 
the hens wild with delight, but the large 
flock would not be able to find the same 
quantity if put in their feed. The small lot 
would be more likely to get every attention 
in the way of feed, water and green stuff, 
where the large flock might be to some ex- 
tent neglected. Again, unless you are trap 
nesting your layers, it would be much easier 
to weed out the drones of a bunch of 25 than 
from the large flock. Disease also could be 
more easily controlled in a small flock than 
in a large one. It is a common occurrence 
