14 Nests for Laying. 



perches, but roost comfortably on a floor littered down 

 warmly with straw. It should be gathered up every 

 morning, and the floor cleaned and kept uncovered till 

 night, when the straw, if clean, should be again laid down. 

 It must be often changed. A bed of sand is also used, and 

 a latticed floor even without straw, and some use latticed 

 benches raised about six inches from the floor. But we 

 should think that latticed roosting-places must be un- 

 comfortable to fowls, and the dung which falls through is 

 often unseen, and, consequently, liable to remain for too 

 long a time, while a portion will stick to the sides of the 

 lattice-work, and be not only difficult to see, but also to 

 remove when seen. The '' Henwife " finds, however, '' that 

 if there are nests, there the Cochins will roost, in spite of 

 all attempts to make them do otherwise." It is a good 

 plan, in warm weather, occasionally to sprinkle water over 

 and about the perches, and scatter a little powdered 

 sulphur over the wetted parts, which will greatly tend to 

 keep the fowls free from insect parasites. 



The nests for laying in are usually made on the ground, 

 or in a kind of trough, a little raised ; but some use boxes 

 or wicker-baskets, which are preferable, as they can be 

 removed separately from time to time, and thoroughly 

 cleansed from dust and vermin, and can also be kept a 

 little apart from each other. These boxes or troughs 

 should be placed against the sides of the house, and a 

 board sloping forwards should be fixed above, to prevent 

 the fowls from roosting upon the edges. If required, a 

 row of laying-boxes or troughs may be placed on the 

 ground, and another about a foot or eighteen inches above 

 the floor. The nest should be made of wheaten, rye, or 

 oaten straw, but never of hay, which is too hot, and 

 favourable besides to the increase of vermin. Heath cut 

 into short pieces forms excellent material for nests, but it 

 cannot always be had. The material must be changed 

 whenever it smells foul or musty, for if it is allowed to 

 become offensive, the hens will often drop their eggs upon 

 the ground sooner than go to the nest. When the fowl- 

 house adjoins a passage, or it can be otherwise so contrived. 



