CHAPTER VI. 



HOUSES FOR BREEDERS. 



The quarters for the 'breeding stock combine houses 

 very much like those for layers, only smaller, and yards 

 made of movable fences. The houses for layers are mov- 

 able, with no yards ; the houses for sitters are stationary, 

 with movable yards ; and the houses and yards for 

 breeders are both movable. The breeders are kept in 

 fives and tens, no flock ever to exceed the latter number. 

 The buildings are of two sizes, one 3 1-2 ft. wide, 4 ft. 

 long, and 2 1-2 ft. high ; and the other of the same 

 width and night, and 7 1-2 ft. long. There are no run- 

 ners, and the doors are few in number, though compris- 

 ing the whole roof ; each house, Fig. 14, is furnished 

 with but one window, and but two or three nests are 

 necessary, and one perch. Otherwise the houses are like 

 those for layers on a reduced scale. They are designed 

 to be moved by two persons, adjustable handles being 

 attached at either end for this purpose. In this way, 

 being without floors, they are shifted to different parts 

 of the yards, and set on ridges of earth raised by the 

 plow. In winter, each stands upon the edges of a dust 

 bin of 2 in. by 8 in. plank. 



The movable fences for the yards of both sitters and 

 breeders are made as follows : Pickets, 2 in. wide, 1-2 

 in. thick and 6 ft. long, are nailed to two rails 3 in. 

 square and 12 ft. long. At both ends of every rail, 

 U-shaped pieces of stout hogshead hoop iron are fast- 

 ened by screws so as to form staples through which 

 round posts, 7 1-2 ft. long and 2 1-2 in. in diameter, 



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