144 



POULTRY FIXTURES 



the warmest. By so doing space is utilized which usually is not 

 high enough to allow the attendant to work conveniently (Fig. 93). 

 Amount of Space Required. The amount of perch room de- 

 pends on the size of the birds. Birds need more roosting space in 

 the summer than in the winter, but under general conditions the 

 following amount of room would be needed by the various breeds : 

 About seven or eight inches of perch room is' required by a hen of 

 the lighter breeds, such as Leghorns; about eight to nine inches 

 for the Plymouth Rocks and others of medium size; and about 

 ten or twelve inches for the largest birds, such as Brahmas and 

 Cochins. In the winter months they will not occupy all of this 



FIG. 93. Arrangement of nests, perches, and dropping boards. A, suspended; B and C, 

 attached to back wall. 



room, but it allows them sufficient space to gain access to the 

 perches and to move about without interfering. 



Materials. Perches can be made from 2x2 inch, 2x3 inch, 

 or 2 x 4 inch scantling, placed either on edge or with the wide 

 surface up. There is a great variety of opinion as to which method 

 is the best, but it is certain that wide perches do not allow the birds 

 to lock themselves securely while sleeping, as nature intended, and 

 narrow perches are apt to develop corns. It is well to round the 

 two upper corners, doing away with the extremely sharp edges. 

 Dressed lumber should be used, as unplaned material is often very 

 rough, furnishing places for red mites. 



Construction of Perches. The perches should always be easily 

 removed, either as a unit or separately. There are a number of 

 different ways of supporting them. When narrow pens are used 

 they are sawed the exact width of the pen and allowed to set in 

 notches cut in strips, the strips being fastened to the inside wall. 

 For wider pens the roosts must be provided with supports in the 

 centre. When 2x2 inch scantling is used, they should be sup- 



