A COLONY CAGE FOR BACKYARD POULTRY FARMERS
(Page 3 of 3)
For seven to eight weeks the chicks are confined to the
lefthand section of the coop, provided with heat, and fed
from shallow troughs or pans of mash and water placed on
the litter near the door. After that the box can be taken
out, the partition removed, and the birds given the run of
the cage.
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A good food container for older birds is a trough feeder
fitted on the inside of the middle door. By making this
unit deep and filling it only half full, you can reduce
wastage by beak-swinging hens. A simple gravity waterer is
excellent for this type of coop, since its large volume
ensures less work for you and plenty of clean, fresh water
for the flock.
The particular cage on which the plans are based was fitted
with a roost pole . . . which isn't absolutely necessary,
but pleases the hens and gets them off the cold wire at
night Such a pole should be painted twice with crankcase
oil, which has been diluted half-and-half with kerosene, to
protect the flock from bloodsucking mites.
The two nest boxes—which are adequate for 10 to 12
layers—must be kept darkened with a burlap blind to
encourage use by the hens (since birds seek privacy and
darkness at laying time). The 1/2-inch square mesh of the
nest floor gives a bit under the occupant's weight and
prevents the egg from cracking when it's dropped.
One disadvantage of the conventional henhouse is that eggs
often accumulate in the nests and are sat on and kept warm
when other hens enter the boxes. Naturally, the quality of
the layings deteriorates very quickly under these
conditions, and cracks and breakage often result In the "C"
cage, this problem is eliminated by a slanting nest-box
floor which rolls the freshly laid eggs to an open air
shelf. They cool quickly in that container and can be
gathered whenever their collection is convenient.
As the hens' production declines, the partition can be
replaced and preparations made for a new batch of chicks.
I've already pointed out, of course, that I don't regard
the above system as ideal . . . but where little space is
available, or ground enclosures are hazardous to a flock's
health, the colony cage is a workable and humane
alternative to the usual form of close confinement. Perhaps
some of MOTHER's readers will find it useful. Good farming!
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