i8 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



a shed which constitutes the only run the fowls 

 have— clean. To dig it up a foot deep every 

 two or three weeks, as some do, answers for a 

 period ; but gradually the whole mass becomes 

 contaminated to that depth, and the fowls begin 

 to ail from the poisonous atmosphere. If all 

 can be removed and replaced with fresh earth 

 every three months or so, it will answer. But it 

 is much easier and more manageable to renew 

 merely a few inches of scratching material, 

 down to a hard bottom, as above indicated. The 

 removed earth or litter will be valuable for the 

 garden. In the winter months it is a good plan 

 to throw down a few bushels of chaff as well, or 

 some straw, spreading it over the loose earth — it 

 will keep the fowls scratching, and promote 

 warmth. 



Let us next suppose that it is desired to carry 



out the fresh-air system in high degree, in even 



such a small house as here supposed. 



Fresh-air Plans jhig caj-, be done in several ways. 



SmaU House. ^ ""oof '^'^ ^°°s^ (^•^- uncemented) 

 tiles is one way ; the air will escape 

 quite freely, and it will only be needful to see 

 that the birds on the perch are not in any direct 

 draught from the entrance hole. This method 

 is, however, rather cold for latitudes much higher 

 than London. It is really warmer to have a 

 tight roof, but to form the house and shed as in 

 Fig. 2. The back A B, and ends, A C and B D, 

 are closed ; but the front, turned towards a 

 sheltered or warm aspect, is only closed from D 



a house thus constructed, and ventilation is 

 entirely free and open, whilst the house will be 

 many degrees warmer than the outer air, if the 

 walls are good. Such a plan can be readily 



Fig. 2. — Semi-open House. 



to E, E C being wired in, with a hole for entrance. 

 The perch is at F G, in the most sheltered part, 

 but facing the open shed. Here we have pure 

 open air, and practically no draught, and the 

 wind can only reach the perch from about the 

 point C. Still more shelter can be secured by 

 some modification of the above plan, such as we 

 show in Fig. 3. Here the side of the house next 

 the open shed is partially closed, E H ; and the 

 perch, F G, put back into the part most sheltered ; 

 the vacant space is, however, entirely open from 

 top to bottom. No direct wind at all can reach 



A B 



H 



E 



Fig. 3. — Semi-open House. 



adopted in any buildings, on any scale, and will 

 give shelter sufficient for almost any part of 

 England : in parts of Scotland it might not 

 suffice so far as the egg-basket is concerned 



In regard to this question of warmth no rule 

 can be laid down. If the house can be built 



against a wall at the back of which 

 Warmth. is a fireplace or stable, it will promote 



eggs in winter, and a genial aspect 

 is also desirable, though by no means essential. 

 In very severe climates, like the United States or 

 northern England, some form of stove may be 

 beneficial ; but heat is generally overdone. The 

 evil is that the birds then take cold on going out 

 into the air. The lamp or stove should be so 

 adjusted as not to raise the heat above about 

 50°, which can easily be done with a little care 

 and thought. In such a house as Fig. 3 a plain 

 petroleum lantern with a wire fence round may 

 be used, with no ill result, owing to the free circu- 

 lation. Experience has proved that if a few 

 fowls are in a house and shed, and kept warm 

 and sheltered — that is, day and night — a hen 

 thus kept warm will lay better. It is heat alter- 

 nated tvith cold which does so much mischief, 

 especially if, besides the heat, the fowls also 

 breathe (in a close house) the fumes from a 

 stove. 



In most cases it is probable that the house 

 will be closed in ; then we must see to express 



ventilation, yet without any definite 

 Ventilation, draught from one point to another 



coming upon the inmates. Usually 

 the entrance hole will be at the front end of the 

 side wall ; then obviously we place the perch at 

 the back side of the house, to be away from it, 

 and the ventilator should be so placed that the 

 draught from this entrance-hole to it does not 

 cross the fowls. That is really the main point. 

 The ventilator itself should be such that no 

 strong wind can blow directly down upon the 



