Show TOWN HENS MAKE FOOD FROM WASTE V Need for Increasing City Flocks Explained by Department of Agriculture SMALL YARDS AFFORD ROOM Cheap Eggs for for City Family May BI Bo Be Obtained by Feeding Hens Waste From Kitchen Male Kitchen Male Bird BirdIs Is Not Necessary l Poultry and eggs have hae never been cheap food for fol the city dweller There Is no hope that they can be during the continuance of the war and its necessarily attendant high prices eveh even eveh ns fiS relatively cheap as they ordina ordinarily U have bave been The only possibility of cheap eggs for the city family lies lles in keeping keepIng- enough hens in lh the back yard where le they y can bl be be supported principally pally ally on kitchen waste to supply the family table Keeping hens in the back yard is at once an economic opportunity opportunity opportunity op op- op- op for city families and an essential essential essential es es- es- es part of the campaign for Increasing Increasing increasing In In- creasing poultry production tIon What may be done with fowls in aback aback a aback back yard depends upon the size of the yard the character of the soil soli the conditions of sunlight shade and ventilation ventilation ven ven- and the interest and skill of the poultry keeper The smallest and least favorably situated back yard affords affords af fords an opportunity to keep at least enough hens to supply eggs for the household The numb number r of hens liens needed needed needed need need- ed for that purpose Is h twice ice the number number number num num- ber of persons to be supplied Hence the smallest flock to be considered consists con con- of four hens bens Where hens ire are re kept only to furnish eggs for the table no male bird is needed Suitable Coop for Small Floe Flock A coop for a flock of ot four hens hens' should have a floor area 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 except except ex ex- ex- ex what her companions actually occupy oc oc- cupy copy For the ordinary flock of 10 to 15 hens the space allowance should be beabout beabout beabout about four square feet per hem hen With proper propel proper care the yard back-yard poultry keeper can keep hens for laying layIng laying lay lay- ing only confining them continuously to their coops and have them lay Jay well nearly as long as they would be profitable profit able layers und under r natural conditions While hens like freedom good feed and care reconcile them to confinement confinement confinement confine confine- ment and mature rugged birds often lay m more re eggs In close confinement than w whey when en at liberty If It the space admits of giving the little yard back-yard flock more room thana than thana a coop of the minimum size size required the condition of the land will determine deter determine mine min the form In which the additional space should be given If It the soil soli is well drained and free from such filth as often contaminates the soil soli of small ba back k yards a yard for the fowls may maybe maybe maybe be fenced In allowing 20 to 30 square feet of yard room per bird The opportunity opportunity opportunity op op- for ex exercise on the land and andIn andIn andin In the open air which this gives the liens hens will benefit them and make life for them more Interesting If It the soil soli Is poorly drained and foul the hens will thrive and lay better If It not allowed on It at all In that case the best way to give gI them some benefit benefit benefit bene bene- fit of the extra space available is to build adjoining the coop a n shed coverIng coverIng cover- cover Ing lag about the same amount of ot ground and having the front only with ith wire netting The foul earth Under under under un Un- un- un der this shed should be removed and the floor filled In a n 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 tor for a year or more more Whatever advantage advantage tage can be given the hens In this way will tend to Increase production and to prolong the period of profitable layIng laying lay lay- Ing The eggs or hens kept in n small small back backyards backwards are perfectly good f for r eatIng eating eat- eat ing ings but of little value for hatching even when fertile ferUle Good chickens cannot cannot can can- not be grown under under such conditions The hens will usually lay Jay well for about a year Then they should be replaced replaced re re- re- re placed with grown farm-grown pUll pullets ts It is known as a matter of experience experience experience ence and observation that town and city people who have hac to figure figure- costs of food closely have not been accustomed accustomed accustomed tomed to use eggs ggs freely except in the season season of flush production and low pric prices s. s A great man many such families can keep a few hens in the back yard and even with low production g get t many Dany more eggs they have been accustomed to use s |