Mule Breeding. 



117 



from the maternal care, when they can be conveniently trans- 

 ferred to it, and a necessary change readily effected. The 

 wires, however, should be sufficiently wide to allow the young- 

 sters to get their heads through, lest they should require for 

 a few days longer the parental assistance in feeding. The 

 dimensions of the cage should be as follows : Entire length, 

 42in.; depth, from top to bottom, 14in. ; width, from back to 

 front, lOin. ; each of the end compartments ought to be 15in. 

 in length, outside measurement, and the centre one 12in., or 

 if it be preferred, the whole of the three compartments can 

 be made the same size ; each one should be furnished with a 

 seed hopper and an egg drawer, in addition to a water trough ; 



FIG. 46. CAGE FOR MULE BREEDING. 



the cages should be made entirely of wood, with the exception 

 of the front and sliding communicators; a false bottom, made 

 to draw out, so that the cage can be readily cleaned out during 

 the breeding season without disturbing the hens, would be 

 found exceedingly serviceable, or the breeding cage represented 

 in Fig. 46 may be used where breeding on a small scale is 

 considered desirable. 



CAGES FOB YOUNG MULES. Mules are very mischievous 

 birds; they are much addicted to plucking each other, and 



