100 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



and one for roosting, — and these should be separated by a par- 

 tition, having an opening, with a shding door, for the fowls to 

 pass through. 



It is best to have the coop entirely above ground ; one under 

 ground is warmer in winter, and cooler in summer, but is always 

 damp ; and we are satisfied, that hens thrive best, and lay best, 

 in a perfectly dry atmosphere. It is rarely the case, that hens 

 lay during the season of moulting ; and, as this does not take 

 place until the second year, young fowls may be relied upon for 

 laying, while the older ones are moulting. 



In most of the hen-houses we have seen, neither the roosting 

 nor the laying apartments have been large enough, and the 

 laying ones have not contained a sufficient number of nests. 

 Frequent whitewashing of tlie coop, the roosts, and the boards 

 enclosing the nests, will be found useful, particularly in the 

 spring of the year, after the hens have been setting. 



Diseases of Poultry. Little attention has, as yet, been paid 

 to the treatment of the diseases of poultry, owing to the fact, 

 that the death of a fowl or two is not usually of much conse- 

 quence. The books on poultry, however, prescribe remedies 

 for various complaints to which fowls are subject. We think, 

 that most of their diseases arise from neglecting to keep the 

 coops clean, from not giving them fresh, clean water, and from 

 not feeding them properly. Judiciously managed, they are 

 healthy, and subject to few diseases. When a fowl is sick, we 

 separate it from the rest of the flock, and if there seems to be 

 no chance of recovery, we kill it, and put an end to its suffer- 

 ings. 



Profits of Poultry. The committee have no hesitation in 

 expressing it as their opinion, that fowls, with proper manage- 

 ment, may be a source of profit to the farmer. The care of 

 them will aff'ord amusement, and the observation of their hab- 

 its furnish instruction to his children. 



Our remarks are already extended to such a length, that we 

 •have only space to allude to the interesting meeting of '•' The 

 New England Convention of Fowl Breeders," which was held 

 in Boston, on the 15th, 16th, and 17th days of November, 

 ,1849. 



