Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1918 — Yards For Chickens [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Yards For Chickens

Prapaiad by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

In most places where poultry Is kept It Is necessary to have yards inclosed by suitable fences which will confine the birds. When it is possible, however, to allow the chickens to have free range, this is the best and most economical way of keeping them. , Fences dividing the land into yards increase the cost of equipment, labor and maintenance, and there should be as few fences as possible, as land can be cultivated and kept sweet more easily if nqt fenced, and the value of fresh, sweet land for poultry can hardly be overestimated. A grass sward can be maintained on good soil by allowing 200 to 250 square feet of land per bird (217 or 174 birds to the acre), while more space is necessary on poor or light land. A larger number of fowls are usually kept to the acre where double yards are used* and the land is frequently cultivated. Plymouth Rocks and the heavy meat birds in small yards require fences five to six feet high, while a fence six to seven feet high is necessary for Leghorns. The upper two feet of the fence for the latter may be inclined inward at an angle of 30 degrees, or a strand or two of barbed wire may be used on top of the regular wire to kelp keep them confined, while it is sometimes necessary to clip the flight feafhers of one wing of those birds which persist in-getting out. It is not advisable to use a board or strip along the top of the fence, as hens will often fly over one so constructed.

Free Range Is Best for Chickens, but They Can Be Kept Successfully in Small Yards In the City.