86o Rural School Leaflet, 



roost on the highest one, if some are higher than others. The scram- 

 bling for the higher places often results in injury to some fowls and always 

 causes disturbance. The best height for the perch is about two and one- 

 half feet to three feet above the floor. 



Nests. — By natural instinct hens seek a secluded spot in which to 

 lay eggs. It is a favor then to provide hens such a retreat. They 

 appreciate all favors, and will be likely to lay more eggs because of it. 



An easy way to make such a nest is to fasten a box on the side wall 

 at about the same height as the perches, leaving a small opening at 

 the side of the box toward the back wall through which the hen enters 

 and from which the eggs can be gathered. The nest is very inviting 

 when kept clean and filled with fresh straw or hay. 



Freedom. — Fowls shoiild be given their freedom in winter as well 

 as in summer. This is particularly desirable when the house opens 

 into a dry barnyard where the fowls can roam about and pick up bits 

 of food left by other animals. 



Cleanliness. — The pen must be kept clean. The health and comfort 

 of the fowls depend very largely upon it. Do not wait until the litter 

 becomes wet and filthy, but change it as soon as it begins to pack. Pro- 

 vide a small box of coal ashes or road dust in which the hens can dust 

 and keep the hen lice off their bodies. Whitewashing the house will help 

 to keep the lice in check; if necessary, pour kerosene on the perches 

 and over the nest boxes, refilling the nests with clean bedding. The 

 whitewashing is very desirable since it makes the pen brighter and 

 cheerier, as well as killing most of the vermin. 



In the above ways the pullets at a very small cost can be made 

 comfortable for the winter. The one thing above all others which I 

 wish to urge young poultry raisers is: Provide your fowls with whole- 

 some surroundings and they will make it worth your while to keep them. 



WITH HENS AND CHICKENS 



It was great fun for me in days gone by to go into a potdtry yard. 

 A most interesting world was there for mc. All the hens and turkeys 

 and ducks and chickens and guinea hens and fine old roosters each 

 as intent on getting his own living and on finding as much stmshine 

 as possible! I Hked to see the different colors of their feathers; the 

 way they worked about the barnyard; the different sounds they gave 

 by way of conversation; and the different dispositions they showed 

 among their fellows. 



What an interesting lesson you could ha\'c on poultry if some day 

 this month your teacher would visit a poultry yard with you! Your 



