THIRTY USEFUL DEVICES 113 



box, they will live and thrive if watered occasionally, 

 and can be used at convenience. 



To Prevent Hens Scratching Take any stout 

 piece of cloth about six inches long and two and one- 

 half inches wide, lap together around the hen's foot, 

 as in Figure no. This is sure to prevent scratching 

 and will last all summer. A piece of bagging -will 

 answer. Do not fasten so tightly as to stop circula- 

 tion. Use soft cord. 



In this connection, C. W. Shorter, Chenango 

 county, New York, writes: "My hens bothered us 

 some by digging in the garden and flower beds until 

 I fixed what I call a poke (Figure no), and fastened 

 it on their leg. It is made of a piece of white ash 



FIG IIO: TO PREVENT SCRATCHING 



about six or seven inches long, flattened at one end 

 and sharpened on the other. The flat end is bent 

 around the hen's leg and tied with some strong thread. 

 It drags behind when they walk, but when they go to 

 scratch, they sit down, and seem quite surprised. 

 Heavy wire would furnish good ones, and are more 

 easily made." 



Shipping Crates for Fowls The top strip on each 

 side of crate (Figure 1 1 1 at the left of the illustration) 

 should extend four inches at each end of crate, as no 

 handles can be placed on the coop that will be quite 

 so convenient. The bottom should be boarded, never 

 stripped, as in the latter case the birds get their feet 

 bruised and broken. 



