178 PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 



good prices as if killed and dressed. In cities having a 

 numerous population of Jewish people, there is at certain 

 seasons a particular demand for plump, live fowl. It is 

 well for the poultryman to post himself as to the times 

 when his live fowl will be wanted at good prices, fatten 

 his birds in preparation for such seasons and dispose 

 of his stock to advantage. 



Live fowls are usually shipped to market in shallow, 

 slatted crates. The ordinary size is six feet long, four 

 feet wide, and one foot high. The slats are from an inch 

 and a quarter to an inch and a half wide, placed about 

 one and one-half inches apart and nailed firmly. A parti- 

 tion in the middle makes the crate capable of carrying 

 chickens with added safety as it prevents excessive 

 crowding or crushing of the birds when the crate is 

 recklessly handled en route. The crate has a slatted door 

 in the top. The fowls should be fed well just before 

 shipping, unless very near market. 



Great numbers of breeding, laying, exhibition and 

 fancy fowl are sold which go to customers who wish to 

 use them for the various purposes indicated or to keep 

 them for pets. 



For the transportation of such birds special ship- 

 ping coops are manufactured which are usually smaller 

 and higher than the marketing crates before mentioned. 



Light, strong shipping coops are made of wooden or 

 iron rods or large wire except the bottom, which is 

 'boarded. 



Slatted coops are also used. Cotton cloth or duck- 

 ing may be used to cover the top and sides of the coop to 

 protect the live birds from draughts or chilling during 

 transportation. 



The door of the coop is usually midway at the front 

 and may be made to slide up and down. 



DRESSED FOWL FOB MABKET. 



On a poultry farm which provides dressed fowls for 

 sale there should be a house or room set apart for killing 

 picking, dressing and packing the fowl in preparation 



