20 Walls and Palings. 



and is also very useful to shelter the coops of the mother 

 hens and their young birds in wet, windy, or hot weather. 



By daily attention to cleanliness, a few fowls maybe kept 

 in such a covered shed, without having any open run, by 

 employing a thick layer of dry pulverised earth as a deodo- 

 riser, which is to be turned over with a rake every day, 

 and replaced with fresh dry pulverised earth once a week. 

 The dry earth entirely absorbs all odour. In a run of this 

 kind, six square feet should be allowed to each fowl kept, 

 for a smaller surface of the dry earth becomes moist and 

 will then no longer deodorise the dung. Sifted ashes 

 spread an inch deep over the floor of the whole shed will 

 be a good substitute if the dry earth cannot be had. They 

 should be raked over every other morning, and renewed at 

 least every fortnight, or oftener if possible. The ground 

 should be dug and turned over whenever it looks sodden, or 

 gives out any offensive smell ; and three or four times a 

 year the polluted soil below the layer, that is, the earth to 

 the depth of three or four inches, should be removed and 

 replaced with fresh earth, gravel, chalk, or ashes.* The 

 shed must be so contrived that the sun can shine upon the 

 fowls during some part of the day, or they will not continue 

 in health for any length of time, and it is almost impossible 

 to rear healthy chickens without its light and warmth ; and 

 it will be a great improvement if part of the run is open. 

 Another shed will be required if chickens are to be reared. 



Fowls that are kept in small spaces or under covered 

 runs will require a different diet to those that are allowed 

 to roam in fields and pick up insects, grass, &c., and must 

 be provided with green food, animal food in place of 

 insects, and be well supplied with mortar rubbish and 

 gravel. 



The height of the wall, paling, or fencing that surrounds 

 the yard, and of the partitions, if the yard is divided into 

 compartments for the purpose of keeping two or more 

 breeds separate and pure, must be according to the nature 

 of the breed. Three feet in height will be sufficient to 

 retain Cochins and Brahmas ; six feet will be required for 

 moderate-sized fowls; and eight or nine feet will be neces- 



*The Practical Poultry Keeper. By "Mr. L. Wright. Cassell, Fetter & Galpin, 



