10 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY. 



by thirty-five feet, besides the lawn or grass-run. If more 

 can be afforded, give it, by all means ; but we found this, 

 with very moderate care, amply sufficient, and believe it will 

 meet the requirements of a large class of readers. 



The plan, it will be seen, comprises two distinct houses, 

 sheds, and runs, with a separate compartment for sitting hens. 

 The nests are placed on the ground at the back of the houses, 

 and the perches, as before recommended, a foot in advance of 

 them, and eighteen inches high. The holes by which the fowls 

 enter open into the sheds, which are wired in, so that in wet 

 weather they can be altogether confined. In dry weather the 

 shed is opened to give them liberty. The fencing should be 

 boarded up a foot high, not only to prevent rain splashing in, 

 but to keep in, when necessary, young chickens, which would 

 otherwise run out between the meshes. 



The holes by which the fowls enter their houses should be 

 furnished with trap-doors, that they may be kept out at pleasure 

 whilst either part is being cleaned. Each house must also 

 have a small window. Having a shed at the side, ventilating 

 lanterns will not be necessary, as the end will be attained by 

 boring a few holes in the wall between the house and shed, 

 towards the highest part of the roof. 



The yards in front of the sheds should be gravel or trodden 

 earth j but if they can be as much as thirty feet long they are 

 better laid down in grass, which, if well rooted first, will bear 

 small fowls upon it for several hours each day, but should be 

 renewed in the spring by sowing when needed. The runs 

 should be enclosed with wire netting, two inches mesh, which 

 may be conveniently stretched on poles 1J inches square, 

 driven two feet into the ground, and placed five feet apart. 

 Between the runs, however, the divisions should be boarded up 

 a couple of feet high, to prevent fighting or restlessness. The 

 height of the fence depends on the breed chosen. Cochins or 

 Brahmas are easily retained within bounds by netting a yard 



