408 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



should be placed a quantity of dried sand, or effete lime a 

 mixture of both would be best, that the fowls may indulge the 

 propensity so natural to them of rolling, basking, and dusting 

 themselves. 



A poultry house is indispensable to the profitable manage- 

 ment of the business. In this the animals will roost, lay their 

 eggs, and bring forth their young. Its situation should be dry, 

 and its position such as to enjoy the sun's rays in winter as 

 soon as he rises above the horizon. Cold not only benumbs 

 fowls, but also retards and diminishes their laying the want 

 of pure water gives them the pip, costiveness, and other in- 

 flammatory diseases. Indeed, an infectious atmosphere causes 

 them to droop, whence it naturally follows that their fecundi- 

 ty is less, that the flesh is not of so good a quality, and their 

 rearing is attended with difficulty. Under these circumstances 

 one may judge how important it is, for the improvement of 

 poultry, that it should be wholesomely, comfortably and clean- 

 ly housed. To centre every advantage that can be wished for 

 in a poultry house, it is essential that it be neither too cold in 

 winter nor too warm in summer; the fowls must take a liking 

 to it, and not be tempted to go to roost and lay any where else. 

 Its size must be proportioned to the number of fowls, but 

 sooner smaller than too large, for in winter they electrify, and 

 impart their own warmth to each other. 



ARTHUR YOUNG was of opinion, that where a set of houses 

 are intended, a situation should be selected near or close to the 

 farm-yard, or to the east, rather near, but not too much so to 

 the farmer's house, and with ample space around for the fowls 

 to disperse over in the day time, and one or more ponds, if 

 there are any of the aquatic sorts. All must have access to a 

 gravelled yard and to grass for a range, with an abundance of 

 clear pure water. Great attention should be paid to cleanli- 

 ness and white-washing, not for appearance, but to destroy 

 vermin. JAMES MAIN, in his Treatise on Poultry says, of 

 whatever size the building may be constructed, it should be 

 raised a foot from the ground, walls thick, well plastered, 

 white-washed inside and out, having neither chinks, crevices, 

 or cavities, which leave room for martins, weazels, rats, and 

 mice, and even insects to get in, and to remain there. The 

 roof that covers it juts out very much, sheltering it from wet, 

 the most dreadful scourge of fowls; the door is small, above 

 which is an opening by which the fowls have ingress and 

 egress by the aid of a ladder; they thus go easily to roost, as 

 the roosts are fixed purposely on a level with this opening. 

 There are two circular windows, the one to the east, the other 

 to the west, furnished with a very close netted grating, and an 



