164 YARDS AND YARDING 



The height of the fence will be determined by the number and 

 type of birds to be kept and the area of the range. Under most 

 conditions, even with the active breeds an eight-foot fence is the 

 limit to which it is profitable to go, for a bird that will fly over an 

 eight-foot fence will just as easily fly over a twelve-foot one. When 

 it is desired to enclose a large field, a five-foot fence is usually 

 high enough. When building poultry fences that are six feet or 

 more in height, it is a good practice to stretch two lengths of poultry 

 netting, one above the other, using three-foot or four-foot widths, 

 according to the height desired. The middle selvage edges should 

 be twisted together, after the lower one is firmly stretched and 

 secured in place. Such a fence, when complete, looks neater, can 

 be stretched better, and is more efficient than if made of one strand 

 of six-foot wire. 



Where small chicks are to be confined, or on ranges for growing 

 stock, it may be desirable to use one width of small-mesh wire at 

 the bottom. This will have a tendency to keep out rats, skunks, 

 and weasels, as well as confine the chicks when put on range at 

 an early age. In small yards in front of long houses where small 

 flocks are kept, each with different males, it is well to use small- 

 mesh wire to the height at least of two feet above the ground. This 

 prevents the male birds from injury in fighting. 



There are two methods of fastening the poultry fence to the 

 ground: (1) Stapling it to a base board; (2) burying the edge in 

 the ground. Stretch the wire with one edge level with the ground; 

 then nail a base board to the posts, setting it slightly in the ground. 

 The wire and board are lapped a little and the selvage edge of the 

 poultry netting is stapled to the board. It is good practice, where 

 many males are kept in adjacent pens, to use base boards to a 

 height of thirty inches, placing them half an inch apart, with 

 poultry netting above them. This prevents the male birds from 

 injuring themselves or each other, which is important if they are 

 highly prized birds or to be used for show purposes. 



Another plan is to place the lower edge of the wire three or 

 four inches in the ground (Fig. 110). This is done by plowing a 

 shallow furrow along the line before the wire is stretched in place. 

 Nail the bottom selvage to the posts about four inches below the 

 ground line. Before filling the trench it is desirable to drive a 

 forked stake in the ground about midway between the posts, hold- 

 ing the wire in place. When the trench is filled, this gives the fence 

 a neat and attractive appearance and does not allow enemies to 



