FENCING MATERIAL 163 



and one-half feet deep, and considerably larger than the diameter 

 of the posts to allow some movement for alignment, and to allow 

 of tamping the soil thoroughly when the holes are being filled. If 

 wooden posts are used, it is very desirable to fill the bottom of the 

 hole with crushed stone, cinders, or coarse gravel, to give better 

 drainage, thus increasing the life of the post by drawing the moist- 

 ure away from it. When filling the post hole, the post should be 

 held in line and the dirt tamped securely from the very bottom of 

 the hole to the top to insure permanence and rigidity from the start. 

 When long stretches of wire are used it is necessary to securely 

 brace the corner posts and all points where the greatest pull occurs. 



FIG. 109. Manner of bracing a corner fence post (a). The pull is in the direction of the 

 arrow. The cleats on the bottom of the corner post prevent its turning or twisting. 



They should be braced below ground to prevent twisting, and above 

 ground to prevent leaning. Figure 109 shows this construction. 



Fencing Material. When the fences are to be used simply to 

 turn or confine the birds a very light-weight fence is satisfactory. 

 The common hexagonal mesh poultry netting, which is carried 

 by all hardware stores, is very satisfactory if it has been properly 

 galvanized. This netting comes in many sizes of mesh from three- 

 quarters of an inch up to three inches, and in varying widths 

 from one foot to six feet. The two-inch mesh is usually used for 

 adult birds and the inch mesh for baby chicks. For boundary 

 fences heavier wire must be used. 



