AMERICAN POULTRY CULTURE 



fence, and more or less serious injuries to combs 

 and heads will be the result. Use no top rail 

 unless absolutely necessary to support the fencing 

 material and then the fowls will have no ostenta- 

 tious object to aim at in flying up to mount the 

 fence. 



Protection from the hot rays of the summer's 

 sun is as necessary to fowls as protection from the 

 Shade in chilling blasts of winter. Of course 



the Runs natural shade is best, but if that is not 

 available, shade can and should be provided. 

 Arrangements for artificially shading parts of the 

 yards include wooden shutters, frames covered 

 with cotton cloth, and supports on which are 

 placed birches and evergreen branches. These 

 " covers " also make good shelters from hawks 

 where such enemies to poultry are present. 



Trees, etc., for Shade. Natural shade can be 

 secured by means of bushes, shrubs, or trees of 

 almost any kind. Two birds may be killed with 

 one stone, as it were, by planting those trees that 

 bear fruit or nuts, as the trees will be a source of 

 revenue as well as providing shade for the fowls. 

 Plum, peach, apple, pear, apricot, and cherry 

 trees all are excellent for poultry runs. Trees 

 bear exceptionally well here on account of the rich 

 poultry manure deposited in the yards by the 

 fowls and because the poultry keep the trees free 

 from injurious worms and insects. In some local- 



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