A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



each. Scatter dry sand, earth, fine ashes, or 

 sawdust on the platform, to prevent the 

 droppings from adhering to the boards; it 

 facilitates cleaning. The entire floor space is 

 finally to be covered five or six inches deep 

 with straw cut a foot in length, common 

 bedding hay, or dried leaves. 



The yard is best in front of the house. 

 Straight poles about eleven inches in circum- 

 ference and eight feet long, cut from the 

 woods, or four-by-four spruce scantling, in- 

 serted two feet in the ground and six feet 

 apart, constitute the foundation on which 

 to stretch the wire netting. Make a door 

 into the yard, using very light poles or slats 

 for the foundation and, of course, covering 

 it with wire. Run a baseboard from post 

 to post, and above it two-inch mesh gal- 

 vanized wire netting, five feet wide. Yards 

 for a house accommodating twelve birds should 

 be at least fifty feet long and ten feet wide. 



If time or the restriction on expenditure 

 prohibits the platform, nests, etc., they can 



