78 BIGGIE POULTRY BOOK. 



adapted to accommodate a flock of these little 

 beauties. The netting door is divided so that the top 

 of it may be opened by the attendant and feed and 

 water put in the run, without entering or letting the 

 chicks out. The whole structure should be made of 

 light material and of a size to render it easily mov- 

 able by two persons of ordinary strength. 



As the purpose of keeping poultry by the average 

 villager is to supply his own table with eggs and 

 poultry but few chicks should be hatched. These 

 should be kept separated as much as possible from 

 the flock of fowls ; colonized, if possible, in a differ- 

 ent quarter until ready for the table or to take the 

 place of the laying stock in the common runs. 



When no hatching eggs are required no males 

 should be kept in the flock. They are useless board- 

 ers and will soon ' ' eat their heads off, ' ' and should 

 themselves first be eaten. 



The rooster, speaking botanically. is the crow-cuss of the 

 poultry yard. 



Dump old mortar and broken plaster in the poultry yard. 



Damaged grain may be used if scorched slightly before 

 feeding. 



Puny, sickly birds are only profitable for fertilizing trees 

 and vines. 



A good cat and vermin-proof 

 coop for the village hennery is 

 often necessary. A simple one is 

 shown herewith. 



As an egg persuader, try equal 

 ' parts of bran, corn meal and ground 

 oats, mixed with one-eighth part of linseed meal ; that is, foui 

 quarts of the linseed meal to one bushel of the grain mixture, 

 If snow that falls on the roof is likely to melt and drij 

 through, shovel it off. A shower bath of snow-water mean 

 roup and death later on. 



