

248 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



This is probably one of the most complete and elegant poul- 

 try-houses in the country. All the arrangements are made with 

 reference to the best principles, and every desirable accommoda- 

 tion is afforded to its fortunate inmates. There can be no doubt 

 that, in future, the example which has been set by this distin- 

 guished man will be followed by others, possessing taste and 

 ample means, and the result will be eminently beneficial, in 

 demonstrating what can be accomplished by judicious care, in 

 rearing the finest kinds of stock. 



COMMON POULTRY-HOUSE. 



A simple poultry-house of small size may be formed by build- 

 ing a shed against the gable of the house, opposite to the part 

 warmed by the kitchen fire, and placing cross-bars in it for 

 roosting, with boxes for laying in, or quantities of fresh straw. 

 There should always be an opening, to allow of the cleaning 

 out, once a week at least, of the poultry-house a process too 

 often neglected, but very essential to the health of the poultry. 

 They never will thrive long amid uncleanness ; and even with 

 the utmost care, a place where poultry have been long kept 

 becomes what the housewives call tainted, and there they will 

 thrive no longer. The surface of the ground becomes saturated 

 with their exuviae, and is therefore no longer healthy. To 

 avoid this effect, some poulterers in the country frequently 

 change the sites of their poultry-houses, to obtain fresh ground ; 

 and to guard against the same misfortune, farmers, who cannot 

 change their hen-houses and yards, purify the houses by fumi- 

 gations of blazing pitch, by washing with hot lime-water, and 

 by strewing large quantities of pure sand both within and 

 without the poultry-houses. Washing the floor of the house 

 every week is necessary ; for which purpose, it is of advantage 

 that it be paved either with stones, bricks, or tiles. But as 

 these three modes are expensive, a good flooring, which is 



