POULTRY MANAGEMENT 291 



more room for litter and for the fowls to scratch. The nests 

 may also be placed under this platform if the room is small. 



The roosts, nests, and platform should be so made as to 

 be easily cleaned. These as well as the inside walls should be 

 covered with lime white-wash, containing some disinfectant, 

 renewed from time to time. 



Dust Boxes. — Chickens love to wallow in dust. This 

 helps to keep them free from mites and Hce. Dust boxes 

 should be provided, particularly in winter time. These may 

 be filled with a sifted mixture of ashes and dry soil. Place 

 the boxes in sunny places. 



Feed Troughs and Hoppers. — These should be used only 

 for the ground feeds, whether wet or dry. For wet mash 

 the troughs are best; but for dry, ground feeds, called dry 

 mash, the self-feeding hoppers are used. Make the feed 

 boxes in such a way as to prevent the fowls from getting 

 into the feed to scratch. The whole grain should be fed 

 in deep fitter. This will induce the chickens to do more 

 scratching, and keep them strong and healthy. 



Self-feeding hoppers are made so as to allow the fowls 

 to eat near the bottom. As fast as the feed is used up more of 

 it runs down from above. These are called dry mash hoppers 

 (Fig. 200). 



Grit Boxes. — Boxes for grit, charcoal, and oyster shell 

 may be fastened to the walls above the litter, for use at all 

 times. 



Drinking Fountains. — These should be placed a foot 

 above the floor for grown chickens. This helps to keep the 

 water clean. A simple water fountain can be made thus: 

 A gallon pail or can or jar without a top is used (Fig. 201). 

 Make a nail hole on one side one-half inch from the top. 

 Fill with clean water. Place over it a flat pan somewhat 

 larger than the mouth of the vessel used. Then suddenly 

 invert the fountain, and place it on a low box in the poultry 

 room. As the water is used out of the pan more will flow 



