Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1918 — TOWN HENS MAKE FOOD FROM WASTE [ARTICLE]

TOWN HENS MAKE FOOD FROM WASTE

Need for Increasing City Flocks Explained by Department of Agriculture. SMALL YARDS AFFORD ROOM Cheap Eggs for City Family May Be ' Obtained by Feeding Hens Waste From Kitchen—Male Bird Is Not Necessary. Poultry and eggs have never been cheap food for the city dweller. There is no hope that they can be, during the continuance of the war and its necessarily attendant high prices, even as relatively cheap as they ordinarily have been. The only possibility of cheap eggs for the city family lies in keeping enough hens in the back yard, where they can be supported principally on kitchen waste, to supply the family table. Keeping hens in the back yard is at once an economic opportunity for city families and an essential part of the campaign for Increasing poultry production. What may be done with fowls in a back yard depends upon the size of the yard, the character of the soil, the conditions of sunlight, shade and ventilation, and the interest and skill of the poultry keeper. The smallest and least favorably situated back yard affords an opportunity to keep at least enough hens to supply eggs for the household. The number of hens needed for that purpose Is-twice the number of persons to be supplied. Hence the smallest flock to be considered consists of four hens. Where hens are kept only to furnish eggs for the table no male bird is needed. Suitable Coop for Small Flock. A coop for a flock of four hens should have a floor arjpa of about 20 square feet, or about 5 feet per hen. For larger flocks the space allowance per bird may be a little less, because the space is used in common and each bird has the use of all the coop except what her companions actually occupy. For the ordinary flock of 10 to 15 hens the space allowance should be about four square feet per hen. With proper care the back-yard poultry keeper can keep hens, for laying only, confining them continuously to their coops, and have them lay well nearly as long as they would be profitable layers under natural conditions. While hens like freedom, good feed and care reconcile them to confinement, and mature, rugged birds often lay more eggs in close confinement than when at liberty. If the space admits of giving the little back-yard flock more room than a coop of the minimum size required, the condition of the land will determine the form in which the additional space should be given. If the soil is well drained and free from such filth as often contaminates the soil of small back yards, a yard for the fowds may be fenced in, allowing 20 to 30 square feet of yard room per bird. The opportunity for exercise on the land and in the open air which this gives the hens will benefit them, and make life for them more Interesting. If the soil is poorly drained and foul, the hens will thrive and lay better if not allowed on It at all. In that case, the best way to give them some benefit of the extra space available is to build adjoining the coop a shed covering about the same amount of ground, and having the front inclosed only with wire netting. The foul earth under this Ohed should be removed and the floor filled in a few’inches higher than the old Surface with fresh earth or sand. Attention to Cleanliness. By proper attention to cleanliness this may be kept in sanitary condition for a year or more. Whatever advantage can be given the hens in this way Wfli tend to increase production, and

to prolong the period of profitable laying. The eggs or hens kept in small back yards are perfectly good for eating, but of little value for hatching even when fertile. Good chickens cannot be grown under such conditions. The hens will usually lay well x for about a year. Then they should be replaced with farm-grown pullets. It is known as a matter of experience and observation that town and city people who have to figure costs of food closely have not been accustomed to use eggs freely except in the season of flush production and low prices. A great many such families can keep a few hens in the back yard, and even with low production get many more eggs than they have been accustomed to use.