THE HEN HOUSE. 225 



to the health of poultry, he will do well to make his 

 hen-house at the back of the kitchen fire-place, if his 

 cottage is built in a manner that will allow of that 

 arrangement. A still better plan might be followed, 

 if it were taken into consideration in the building of 

 cottages, that the space next the roof, often left empty 

 and useless, would make a good hen-house, especially 

 that part of it near the chimney, where sufficient warmth 

 would be secured even in the coldest weather. This 

 part of the roof might be partitioned off, and an opening 

 left for the entrance of the fowls by means of a hen- 

 ladder. Of course there must also be a hatchway, to 

 enable the owner to go in and out, for the purpose of 

 cleaning and looking after the fowls. In this situation 

 fowls would be safe from their natural enemies the fox, 

 the weasel, and the pole-cat, and would only be in danger 

 from rats and mice, which even there might find them 

 out and destroy their eggs. A hen-ladder is necessary 

 to all poultry-houses, as the birds are very apt to injure 

 themselves in attempting to fly down from the roof. 



In rearing poultry on a large scale, a distinct yard 

 is required for the purpose. The place chosen should 

 always be a dry and sheltered spot, with a warm aspect. 

 A good fence and a supply of running water are also 

 needful, and a neighbouring field for them to range in 

 is a desirable addition. The house should be well roofed, 

 dry, and facing the east or south ; separate apartments 

 being provided for each kind of poultry. Two small 

 lattice windows at opposite ends of the building will 

 allow of free ventilation when required, and the perches 

 should be so arranged that one row of roosting fowls be 

 not exactly over another. The floor should be of strong 

 flag-stones, and the roof of slate, well filled in under- 

 neath, and lathed and plastered on the inside. Thus 

 there would be no place of harbour for vermin either in 

 the roof or under the floor. There should be a separate 

 place for a hatching-house, with many divisions, con- 

 taining nests for the sitting hens. This place should be 

 Q 



