132 FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING. 



if shade must be provided, make shelters of boards or cloth, or plant trees in the yards. The 

 trees answer permanently ; the other shelters will do until the trees are of size to make shade. 

 Japanese plum trees have been favorites with poultrymen. They make a quick growth, and 

 for a few years bear well, but are short lived. Some poultrymen have planted plum, cherry, or 

 peach trees, or some of all of these in their yards, alternating with apple trees. The other 

 trees will have passed their prime by the time the apple trees are crowding them out, and can 

 then be taken out, leaving a nice apple orchard; 



A six foot fence is not always necessary for small yards. For Asiatics It Is higher than 

 required, and is also higher than needed for some American breeds; but if yards are small it 

 is better to make fences high, unless it is certain they will never be used for fowls that can fly. 

 The additional cost does not exceed half a cent per running foot of the fence, and the six foot 

 fence is practically safe for all the popular varieties of fowls, while a five foot fence is not high 

 enough for a small enclosure for Leghorns, and many fowls of all breeds but Asiatics can go 

 over it if they try. 



The six-foot fence, while generally safe, will not answer for light, active fowls that have 

 acquired the habit of flying over it. For such variousMevices have been tried, some of which 

 seem to work in one case, some in another. Rarely the fence is built to a greater height than 

 six feet. Oftener a narrower strip ot wire netting is placed at the top of the fence, in a 

 horizontal position, being attached to horizontal strips of wood fastened to the tops of the 

 posts. This wire extends out a foot or more from the perpendicular fence. The object is 

 to prevent hens which have caught the trick from alighting on the top wire of the fence 

 proper. Sometimes instead ot wire netting one or more single wires are strung to cross 

 pieces on top the posts, the purpose being the same, to have the fowls flying for the top of the 

 fence strike them and be thrown back Mone of these devices are absolutely sure. To be sure 

 of retaining breeding fowls in small yards with six-foot fences the yard must be covered over 

 with wire netting. 



In this connection it may be well to point out that flying is with fowls very much a matter 

 of habit. Chicks that are raised where they have no inducement to fly, or where the fences are 

 so high that they could not fly over them until quite well grown seldom get into the habit. 

 Those which find conditions and fences which encourage flying early acquire the habit, and it 

 becomes difficult to break them of it. There are of course some differences due to breed and 

 family, but on the whole fowls kept where the fences easily retain them while small rarely 

 become troublesome as flyers. 



Gates. 



Gates are usually made like small sections of the fence of which they are a part. Different 

 styles of self-opening and closing gates have been devised, but the old simple gate seems to 

 hold its own. Probably because it is inexpensive and reliable. The hinges are sometimes of 

 springs, or a spring is attached to the gate to shut it, but the poultryman who is wise in his 

 craft will not rely on a spring. A strong breeze often swings a gate which is not securely 

 fastened, fowls slip from one pen to another; there is confusion, annoyance, and often serious 

 loss from such mischances. It Is safer to have every gate fastened with a fastening that can 

 be depended upon. 



