16 Farm Poultry 



Disposition. Almost without exception, a ner- 

 vous, active disposition is characteristic of the 

 various varieties of fowls which are noted for 

 egg-production. They are naturally quick, alert, 

 easily frightened, and when once thoroughly 

 aroused fly almost with the ease of wild birds. 

 On account of this activity, they like a wide 

 range and ordinarily do best when not closely 

 confined. Many varieties, however, thrive well 

 when kept within inclosures, if the confinement 

 is not too rigorous. 



Whenever inclosures are provided to restrict 

 their range, careful handling is necessary in order 

 that the practice of using their wings as a means 

 of locomotion may be avoided as far as possible. 

 Habit, when once acquired, is not easily changed; 

 consequently breeders find it difficult to correct 

 the annoying tendency to fly on slight provocation 

 when the habit is well formed. Many a fine fowl 

 has suffered the death penalty for continually 

 flying over inclosures. Whenever a few fowls of 

 a flock or pen have acquired the habit of flying 

 over the inclosures or fences, a reasonable modi- 

 fication of the inclosure to correct the evil rarely 

 suffices. It has been said with much aptness 

 that "Egg breeds of fowls, like honey bees, re- 

 quire slow movements and careful handling from 

 the attendant for success, while hasty movements 

 bring annoyance and disaster," 



