204 



TnM PA'kM. 



against injury must be provided. Wliore young chickens of different agfea 

 are together, the elder tyrannize over the younger, the newly-hatched 

 chickens being frequently trampled to death, or are driven away from 

 their food by the stronger. Young chickens are very often lost in the grass 

 when at Uberty, and are frequently wet and chilled. Hence, to successfully 

 raise a large number of chickens by hand, various means must be provided 

 by which those of different ages can be separated, and by which the chickens 

 can be protected and at the same time have sufScient liberty for exercise 

 and development in the open air. 



A Rustic Pojiltry Ilowse. — The rustic poultry house here illustrated is 

 not only convenient, but designed to beautify the poultry yard of any ama- 

 teur or breeder. For the rustic work, join four pieees of sapUug in an ob- 

 long shape for sills; confine them to the ground; erect at the middle of each 

 of the two ends a forked post, of suitable height, in order to make the sides 

 quite steep; join these with a ridge pole; put on any rough or old boards 



fi'om the apex down to the 

 ground; then cover it with 

 bark, cut in rough pieces, 

 from half to a foot square, 

 laid on and confined in the 

 same manner as ordinary 

 shingles; fix the back end 

 in the same way; and the 

 front can be latticed with 

 little poles, with the bark 

 on, arranged diamond fash- 

 ion, as shown in the en- 

 graving. The door can be 

 made in any style of rustic 

 form. The roosts, lajiug 

 and setting boxes can bt; 

 placed inside of the house, 

 in almost any position, 

 cither lengthwise or in the 

 rear. From the directions here given one can easily build a house of any 

 desired size, and in any location in the poultry yard he wishes; but to make 

 the rusticity of the house show off to the best advantage it should be placed 

 amid shrubbery. 



Tlio Ha telling Period. — Setting hens should have a daily run. Do not 

 remove them forcibly from their nests, but let the door be open every day at 

 a given hour for a certain time while the attendant is about. Perhajis for 

 the first day or two you may have to take them gently off their nests, and 

 deposit them on the ground outside the door. They will soon, howevei", 

 leam the habit and come out when the door is open, eat, drmk, have a dust- 

 bath and return to their nests. 



While hens are off their nests some people dampen the eggs with luke- 

 warm water. It is claimed that moisture is necessary, and tliat the chicks 

 gain strength by the process. This may be correct, and in very dry weather, 

 perhaps, necessary. It is generally, however, a mistake to meddle too much 

 with nost or eggs; the hen is only made restless and dissatisfied by so doing. 

 While the eggs are hatching out it is best not to touch the nesta. It ie very 



A BTJSTIC POULTBT HOUSE. 



