340 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



This is easily accomplished when undertaken in a business- 

 like manner. If the fowls are to be kept near the farm 

 buildings, provide ample yard room, enclosed by wire fenc- 

 ing. The best material for this purpose that I know of at 

 this date is the M. M. S. poultry fencing, which is made of 

 any height ordinarily required, with small meshes below and 

 wider meshes above. It requires ordinarily but few posts, 

 is easily put up and has a very neat appearance when in 

 position. Another way of separating the fowls from the 

 centre of farm operations is to place the houses at a consid- 

 erable distance from the farmstead, in a pasture, where the 

 fowls will have free range. The latter plan may entail some 

 extra travel by the attendant, and there is the risk in some 

 localities of depredations by foxes, hawks or other wild ani- 

 mals or thieves. The young, strong farmer boy may find 

 advantages in the second or so-called "colony plan," while 

 the housewife will probably find the fence enclosure near the 

 farm house preferable. 



The Houses and Yards. 

 In a fickle and somewhat rugged climate like that of New 

 England, shelter from the extremes of weather, which check 

 the growth of the fowls and their egg production, is neces- 

 sary. No doubt some of our domestic fowls, if turned loose 

 in the woods, could adapt themselves to the natural condi- 

 tions, and continue to exist ; but the process would certainly 

 reduce their egg production, and proba1)ly their size. We 

 attempt to provide, by means of proper shelter, a more 

 equable and comfortable climate, and expect remuneration 

 for this outlay of capital in the form of plump chickens and 

 numerous eggs at a season when prices are satisfactory. 

 Whatever the style or form of poultry building contem- 

 plated, it should be so placed that storm water and surface- 

 flowage water will flow away from and not into or under the 

 house. For this reason, a knoll or spot where the ground 

 slopes away from the site is a good place to select for the 

 building. If the soil is liable to be soaked wdth water at 

 any season, it is well to excavate one or two feet deep, and 

 fill in with stones where the building is to stand. Tile 

 drains may also be laid to conduct the soil w^ater away from 



