PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



portion of the floor space is used as a scratch room, where the 

 grain mixture is fed. The rear portion can also be used for 

 that purpose if necessary. 



Some poultry keepers advise a dust box to be partly filled 

 with soil, sifted ashes, road dust, dustyne or other material. 

 It can be placed under the drop boards, and surely the hens 

 appreciate it. The good points of a house such as described 

 are ventilation without a draft, an abundance of sunlight reach- 

 ing all parts of the building, a dry floor, it is roomy and com- 

 fortable, and rats and sparrows cannot infest it. 



Lots 



It is a great help to have one or more lots connected with 

 every section of the potiltry house. If vvinter eggs are to be 

 forthcoming, the flock should not be allowed to roam over the 

 farm, but they should have access to the outdoor air at least 

 a portion of nearly every day. This cannot be accomplished 

 without chicken tight lots. If there is a lot in front and one in 

 the rear the ground can be cultivated, and while the hens are 

 using one lot, a crop of rape, oats or other green feed can be 

 grown in the other. In this way the soil is kept sweet and 

 disease is warded off. If only one lot can be provided it should 

 be disinfected frequently by sprinkling the ground with a solu- 

 tion of copperas, one pound to 50 gallons of water. Slaked 

 lime is also good for disinfection if scattered over the ground. 

 Another good method is to spade the soil. This gives oxygen 



Mr. Osbum uses this convenient nestbox arrangement 



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