136 THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



which always collects by degrees, and is very prejudicial to health ; and the 

 trough being slightly raised from the ground, instead of upon it, the water 

 is less easily fouled. But either form, if placed with the trough towards the 

 wall, at a few inches distance from it, will keep the water clean very well. 

 Some experienced breeders prefer shallow pans ; but if these be adopted they 

 must be either put behind rails, with a board over, or protected by a cover, 

 in the same way as the feeding troughs already described. 



WINTER WATER FOUNTAIN. 



We are indebted to the American Agriculturist for the description and 

 manner of keeping water from freezing in the fountain in winter, also for a 

 duck-feeding contrivance, and for the plan of a beautiful rustic duck coop, 

 herewith given. In describing these appliances it says : " There is almost 





FIG. 3. FEED Box TOR DUCKS. 



always some difficulty in keeping fowls supplied with water in cold weather. 

 We have had no trouble since adopting the following expedient. A barrel 

 is sawed into two tubs, and an earthen jug placed in one of the tubs, the 

 bottom of the jug and that of the tub being in contact, or nearly so, and the 

 mouth of the jug close to the rim of the tub. The jug may be fixed in posi- 

 tion by a few sticks, nailed across the tub inside. The tub is then stuffed 

 full of horse litter and manure, and strips nailed across the top to keep it in. 

 When this is done we fill' the jug with \vater, put in a cork, and invert tub 

 and all. (See figure 2.) Then the cork is withdrawn at the same time that 

 a small pan is slipped under. The pan remains full during the day, and, if 

 set in the sun, will not freeze so much as a film of ice upon the surface, even 

 out of doors, except on the severest days. At night the pan should be with- 

 drawn, and the water allowed to flow out. 



CONTRIVANCE FOR FEEDING DUCKS. 



" A simple contrivance for feeding ducks and not allowing chickens to 



