1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
863 
MAPES, THE HEN MAN. 
ESSENTIALS FOR EGG PRODUCTION. 
Large Flocks Housed Together. 
SECOND-STORY HENS—In a recent issue I 
spoke of my belief that the near future will see prac¬ 
tical poultrymen keeping liens in much larger flocks 
than has been heretofore thought desirable. The three 
great items to be considered in production cost of 
eggs are feed, labor, and buildings. Where 10 feet of 
floor space is allowed for each hen, and small flocks 
are the rule, the second and third items will cat up 
BEST CROP ON THE FARM. Fig. 38S. 
all the profits in the majority of cases, no matter how 
successful a man may be in handling the first item. 
In the light of present knowledge, which is the result 
of over a dozen years of experience in keeping “hens 
by the acre” as my chief source of income, I should 
certainly plan to keep several hundred if not a thou¬ 
sand, in each flock, were I to put up new buildings. 
Comfortable quarters, pure air, and proper and suffi¬ 
cient food are the three essentials to egg-production. 
These could all be supplied in such a hen-barn as I 
spoke of and the item of labor be reduced to a mini¬ 
mum. I would make it two stories high in order to 
economize space, and also to make one roof and one 
foundation do double duty. The upper floor would 
be used exclusively for sleeping quarters. Would I 
use tables under the perches to catch the 
droppings? Most certainly. In a room 
large enough to lodge 1,000 hens these 
tables could be arranged in two rows, with 
a four-foot alley between them at the 
center of the room, and also along the 
outer sides of the room. In a room 30 x 
00 feet two tables 9 x 50 feet would 
give ample room for enough perches. A 
four-foot walk entirely surrounding 
these tables would make it easy to clean 
them, and remove the droppings with a 
barrow or cart. The entire floor space 
of both stories could be kept clean with 
litter of some kind. When the upper 
floor or the tables needed cleaning the 
hens would be enticed below with a 
regular or special feed, and the stair¬ 
way door shut. This would give the 
worker fine opportunity to proceed un¬ 
molested by the hens. When the lower 
floor needs cleaning the hens could be 
enticed out of doors and out of the way 
in fine weather, or confined on the up¬ 
per floor should the weather not be 
suitable for them to be out. In intro¬ 
ducing new stock to such a barn they 
should always be placed in the upper 
story at first, and confined a day or two 
until they become wonted to the perches. 
Otherwise there will be trouble in get¬ 
ting them to mount the stairs at bed¬ 
time. In this way a big flock can be 
cared for with a minimum of work and 
a maximum of profit. 
DOWNSTAIRS ARRANGEMENTS. — The feed 
troughs on the lower floor can be filled with mash in 
the morning before the door is opened for them to 
descend from above. All reserved seats would be 
quickly filled by hens which have a proper appetite and 
greater uniformity in feeding secured than in a large 
number of small flocks. What furnishings should 
the lower floor contain? Feed troughs (where mash 
is to be used) nests, dust-boxes, and drinking foun¬ 
tains. Lots of whitewash and clean scratching litter 
will give a cozy and cheerful home during the day for 
both birds and attendant. The eggs could be picked 
up several times a day, in order to secure clean eggs 
and avoid risk of breakage. Dust-boxes should be 
provided on a level with each window-sill, as heps 
like a warm bath in a sunny spot. The nests I would 
place between the windows, a little higher than the 
dust-boxes. 
CROWDED BIRDS.—The 100 five-year-old hens 
which I crowded in a room 12 x 15 feet August 1 
have given me no cause as yet to reverse my opinion 
as to the fallacy of the popular idea of 10 feet of floor 
space being necessary for each hen. Not many eggs 
were to be expected at this season of the year from 
five-year-old hens, but they are doing as well as others 
with far more room. The White Wyandotte that was 
almost naked from moulting August 1, and began lay¬ 
ing September 1, has kept it up ever since, laying fully 
40 eggs during September and October, worth enough 
to pay for her year’s feed. The 300 hens, mostly of 
same age, which I crowded into an old stable 15 x 4S 
feet September 1, have given me some uneasiness on 
account of an outbreak of roup, but I can see no dis¬ 
advantage due to crowding. Some years ago this old 
building was used as a hospital, and many a roupy 
bird found its way from it to a premature grave. Did 
some dry germs of the disease lurk about all these 
years? This outbreak has not been particularly severe. 
I have seen many worse ones in small flocks. Not 
over two per cent have died thus far, and the worst 
appears to be over. A few have lost the use of one 
eye, but otherwise appear to be recovering. Fifty 
from this lot were recently marketed, and the butcher 
to whom I sold them complimented me on their plump 
appearance. I fear some of his customers who may 
have tried to cook them in a hurry may have been 
disappointed. 
A FEEDING QUESTION.—Where fowls have unlimited 
range and free access to abundance of grass and clover 
during the Summer and Fall, would it be necessary to feed 
them morning and night all (hey will clean up in five min¬ 
utes? Would you advise the addition of meat in some 
form in their mash while insects are plentiful? If so. full 
or half feed of meat? I want to feed so as to derive the 
most profit, eggs being my object. w. h. h. 
Unionville, Va. 
If profit from eggs is to be secured, this correspond¬ 
ent will do well to feed grain either ground or whole 
at least twice a day. If the flock is at all large I 
should advise some meat, or animal food in some 
form, also. A very small flock will often get suffi¬ 
cient insects, etc., to dispense with meat in the ration. 
Five minutes is sufficient time for a hen to make a 
full meal of either whole or ground grain. Any that 
is left after that length of time is superfluous. I am 
not prepared to say that animal food in some form is 
an absolute necessity for egg production. In fact, I 
have heard of a few well-authenticated instances where 
a flock has done remarkably well without it. Still, 
they seem to be only the usual exceptions which prove 
the rule. Until more definite knowledge is obtained on 
the subject it is safe to follow the crowd and feed 
meat or milk in some form. The man who expects 
hens to produce eggs on grass alone, however abund¬ 
ant, is doomed to disappointment. o. w. mapes. 
If you are denied the cream of life remember there is 
more muscle in skim-milk. 
Many of the eggs used in cooking Thanksgiving dinners 
came out of water glass this year! 
One little jar to Thanksgiving was the fact that people 
are once more asking about the profit in raising skunks for 
bide and oil. There is no profit in it. 
HANDLING FOREST LEAVES. 
There are doubtless many owners of small farms and 
poultry establishments, located where leaves are plenti¬ 
ful, who, while appreciating their value as litter in 
stable or poultry-house, consider them too difficult to 
gather. For several years I had occasion to collect 
quite a quantity of leaves each Fall, and having de¬ 
vised methods of handling that are satisfactory to my¬ 
self, they may be of use to others. First, finding the 
“TIIE FEEDER IS HALF THE FLOCK!” Fig. 390. 
ordinary wagon-bed too small for the purpose, I pro¬ 
ceed to put on an addition. There were stout staples 
on the sides for side-boards. Into these were fitted 
uprights, of good material, extending about two feet 
above the sides of the bed. Three five-inch boards for 
each side were then nailed to the uprights. The front 
was fixed in the same way and a movable gate arranged 
for the rear. The bed then measured 10 feet x 3)4 x 3 
feet, quite satisfactory where the haul is short, though 
for long distances I should prefer something much 
larger. 
In gathering leaves it is customary to rake them into 
small heaps or windrows for loading, but much time 
may be saved, and it is more satisfactory every way to 
rake an area 100 to 150 fe.et or more in diameter 
to a central point into one large 
heap. We usually aim to have a heap 
large enough for a load. When the heap 
is ready the fun of loading begins. The 
wagon is placed with the rear end to the 
heap, and about 10 feet away; the rear 
gate is removed and a stout plank, pro¬ 
vided for the purpose, is placed with one 
end resting on the ground and the other 
on the floor of the wagon-bed. All hands 
dive into the big pile with widespread arms, 
each trying to clasp the largest armful. 
One by one they walk up the plank and 
deposit their “catch” on the wagon, tramp¬ 
ing the leaves as they are put on. When 
well filled the rear gate is put in place; 
then one tramps while the rest carry up 
the leaves and throw them over the gate 
until the rack is crowded and heaping full. 
The plank is then drawn up and laid 
lengthwise on the load for a “tie-pole.” 
The driver sitting on the plank takes the 
load to the barn and unloads while the 
others rake up another heap. In this 
way two or three men can gather quite 
a quantity in a day. 
The leaves are stored in a “lean-to,” 
built against the barn, and intended for a 
wagon-shed. Here they are quickly un¬ 
loaded by backing the wagon into posi¬ 
tion, removing the rear gate and 
pushing them off with a fork. Per¬ 
haps most trouble is found in con¬ 
veying the light and frisky leaves 
from storage when wanted for use. 
A good way to do this is as follows: Take a 
broomstick, whittle one end to a long tapering point. 
With the stick in one hand thrust it through a mass 
of leaves; then find the end with the other hand. Plold 
the mass tightly, lift, give a slight shake and there you 
are ready to carry them any reasonable distance, and 
you will lose very few even in the face of a stiff wind. 
With a little practice you can grasp and carry a huge 
bunch in this way. Forest leaves are not as much used 
as their merits deserve. Especially as liter in the poul¬ 
try houses theie is probably nothing else that will at 
all compare with them. When used as a mulch they 
should be mixed with littei, to prevent them from pack¬ 
ing down too closely. d. l. hartman. 
Pennsylvania. 
CROP OF SOY BEANS IN MARYLAND. Fig. 389. 
See l’age 8G4. 
