A TicJc-proof Fowl House. 663 



are partly filled with kerosene, thereby preventing any crawling 

 insects from reaching the birds at night as is usual with all fowl 

 vermin. 



Another feature of this house is the perch, which is three inches 

 wide, thereby preventing the birds from getting crooked breasts. 

 The perches are quite loose, merely resting on three chips of uralite 

 which are nailed to the wall. These perches should be removed 

 weekly, and examined, not only for the ticks (which may occasionally 

 get in on the birds) but for the red sucker, which plays havoc with 

 poultry in all districts. Any signs of small white dots on the perches 

 should be immediately washed over with kerosene, as these small 

 white eggs will hatch in a very short time (the ticks' eggs are red) . 



It is claimed for the house : — 



1st. — That it is fire-proof. (The brazing lamp may be used 

 without any fear of fire, as uralite will stand 3,000 degrees of heat, 

 sufficient to melt steel.) 



2nd. — That it is tick-proof. 



ord. — That it is much cooler than any other building material 

 used in constructing fowl houses. 



4th. — That by dropping the wire door at night time it is fox- 

 proof. 



5th. — ^That the house being portable may be turned according to 

 weather conditions, thereby saving the birds from the ill effects of 

 driving wind or rain. Let the opening of the house face the east, 

 excepting when an easterly wind or rain sets in, which is seldom in 

 Victoria. 



Lastly, the raised tioor of the house affords good shelter for the 

 birds during the heat of the day. 



The cost of uralite is a trifle more than galvanized iron, but it 

 will amply repay the additional cost. 



Sketch B will enable the reader to see at a glance how to con- 

 struct a smaller house capable of housing, say, 25 birds. It also may 

 be built of uralite on the inside of a wooden frame, which is the most 

 desirable arrangement, thus securing the advantages mentioned in 

 regard to sketch A ; or it may be built of ruberoid stretched over 

 wire netting placed over the wooden frame. The overlapping joints 

 of the ruberoid should be sealed with ruberine and fastened with 

 special studs supplied with the material by the makers. Of course, 

 it may be built of wood and iron in the usual way, but this is not 

 recommended. This house also is tick-proof, and is easily portable as 

 two lads can lift it. It has the advantage of having a flap or verandah 

 preventing rain from driving in ; it also stands in kerosene tins, or 

 any receptacle sufficient to hold a little kerosene. The front, 

 which should face the east, is simply a wire shutter, preventing foxes 

 or dogs from interfering with birds. 



The perches in the house shown in sketch A may be adopted 

 in the house shown in sketch B ; or the special arrangement 



