POULTRY FOR PROFIT 163 



ket, and after a short time I find them all on the 

 roosts. 



Roosts for young stock should be two inches wide. 

 For adult fowls three inches is a better width, for 

 the efforts of a large fowl to keep itself on a narrow 

 roost by grasping it tightly with its claws sometimes 

 result in bumblefoot. Chickens should be able to 

 rest comfortably on a perch without having to cling. 



Roosts for heavy fowls should be not over two and 

 one-half feet from the ground. Leghorns may roost 

 considerably higher, but an Orpington or a Rock, in 

 jumping from a high roost onto a hard floor fre- 

 quently bruises its feet and causes bumblefoot. Place 

 all roosts on the same level. If they are of different 

 heights all the birds will crowd upon the highest. 



A very good roost is made of 2x2 material with the 

 upper sides rounded. This is recommended by the 

 Department of Agriculture. 



A GOOD NEST 



The proper sort of nest is a very important part 

 of the poultry house plan. On the farm or the back 

 lot where only a few hens are kept, a grocery box, 

 if it is of the right size and contains sufficient litter, 

 answers very well, but the poultry house which is 

 destined to hold many layers must contain nests that 

 are well planned and efficient. 



A favorite way of building nests is to put them 

 under the droppings boards. Some of the best ex- 

 periment stations do this, and it is a very good way 

 where the requirements of cleanliness are observed. 

 Others build them along the front of the laying house 

 where they are entirely away from the roosts. 



The proper size of the nest must receive careful 

 consideration. It should not be too small, for two 

 hens will often crowd upon one nest, with resulting 



