15S iMjULlkV siicriux 



ficient , but if fewer than this, the space should be greater proportionately. The 

 house should l)C liigh enough to accommodate those working in it, but no higher, 

 as additional height increases the cost and makes the regulation of temperature 

 more diflicult. If possil.ilc, Iniild a scratching shed in connection with your poultry 

 house. Make this with open front, covered with poultry netting and curtain of 

 muslin or burlap, to let down in stormy weather. Such a shed allows much more 

 floor space and permits tlic liuilding of smaller roosting and nesting quarters at less 

 expense. .\ In. use 12 feet wide b_\ 20 feet long would be suitable for a flock of 

 50 fowls of the larger breed, or for 01) iir 7f) fowls of the smaller varieties. IMuch 

 floor space can be ,g;iined b_\- placing dri'pping bo;irds under the roosts. These 

 should be S or 1(1 inclies from tlie roosts and ought to lie cleaned at least once a 

 week or ofteiier. 



The most suitable material for roosts are 2 by 2, or 2 by 4 timbers, with the 

 uppermost corners slightly rounded. These should be made removable to facilitate 

 cleaning. Fowls of the larger breed require 7 to 9 inches space on roost, the 

 smaller ones require from 6 to 7 inches, 'idie nests should be darkened as the hens 

 naturally seek a secluded place in which to lay their eggs. A good place for the 

 nests is under the front of the roosting platform, the entrance to the nests in the 

 rear, with a board on binges to give access from the front to gather the eggs and clean 

 out the nests. The nests should be 12 to 14 inches square and of about the same 

 height. The inside of the house, roosts, nests and other fixtures will be kept sweeter 

 and cleaner if they are thoroughly wdiitewasbed at least twice a year. Mi.x a liberal 

 amount of Disinfeetall with the whitewash and >'0U will be but little troubled with 

 mites and lice. The main thing in housing poultry is to give them plenty of room. 

 Overcrowding leads to disease, and disease cuts down the profits. 



BREEDING FOR VIGOROUS LAYING STOCK. 



The main thing, after selecting the breed you like best, is to secure good breed- 

 ing stock with exceptional vigor and vitality. It is impossible to raise healthy, 

 lively chicks, that will develop into strong, vigorous fowls unless you have the 

 vigorous foundation stock to breed from. You must have vitality whether your 

 fowds are bred for market purposes or for eggs. You cannot e.xpect a profit from 

 weak and sickly birds. 



A common mistake among poultry raisers, and especially among farmers, is to 

 use eggs for hatching collected from the wliole flock. The chances are that a few 

 of the eggs are from the best hens, but the majority of the chicks will be poorer 

 stock and will not help to build up the flock. The proper way is to separate a few 

 of the best hens from the remainder of the flock, mate thein with a good, vigorous 

 male bird and use only the eggs from this pen for hatching. In this way you know 

 just wdiat your breeders are and will make more improvement in your flock in one 

 year than you will the other way in three. 



It is a good plan, in order to maintain the vigor and other good qualities of 

 your flock to introduce new blood occasionally. This may be done by purchasing 

 new male birds each >ear or every second year, or you may buy eggs froin some 

 reliable poultry raiser and select tlie best stock hatched from these eggs for next 

 season's breeding. In either case be careful that you get equally as good or better 

 stock than you already have. In buying new birds it is well to get them early 

 enough to become accustomed to their new surroundings before the breeding season 

 begins. 



The selection of new stock is important and requires some knowdedge of the 

 qualifications of poultr)- in general. One must consider the appearance, the shape, 

 size, and color. He must consider the conditton of the fowl, whether it is healthy 

 and full of life and vigor, or whether it is weak and sickly. In purchasing birds 

 for the improvement of your laying stock its past performance is most important. 

 Be sure that it is stock from a strain of fowds that has produced winter eggs. 



In mating up your fowls for breeding, the age of the stock must be considered. 

 Mating immature birds on both sides is rarely productive of strong chicks and 

 generally means many chicks dead in the shell. Birds must be full grown and w^ell 

 matured before they are in a fit condition to reproduce themselves. Eggs from 

 older hens are better for hatching than those from pullets. The usual and probably 

 the best method is to mate a good vigorous cockerel with two-year-old hens or a 



