156 BIGGI^E POULTRY BOOK. 



Minks and Weasels will kill a whole coopful in one night. 

 They do not eat but only bleed them in the neck and suck the 

 blood. These vermin live in svvampj' ravines, whence they come 

 and lodge a few days in brush and rail piles, or along fences 

 while engaged in their work of slaughter. Dogs and traps may 

 be used against them. 



Foxes are also night maurauders and their sly games may 

 be foiled by closed coops and houses and a watchful dog. 



A good arrangement for trapping all these varmints is 

 shown bj' the illustration given herewith. It 

 consists of a large box open at both ends 

 having the central part securely enclosed by 

 strong wire netting. A hen and her brood, 

 or a few half-grown chicks or ducklings are put in through the 

 trap-door on top. In both ends steel traps are set and concealed 

 by litter or bits of thin cloth, the traps being securely chained. 

 In the cut the side of coop is left off, to better show its construction. 



Cats, generally the innocent-looking pet cat, often acquire 

 a taste for young chickens and will eat two or three daily with 

 great regularity. The best remedy is lead from a shot-gun, or, 

 if the fur is wanted, put pussy and an ounce of chloroform 

 together in a close box. 



Hawks and Crows in the vicinity of woods are often 

 troublesome. When they have once caught a chicken at a 

 certain place they will usually come at the same hour the 

 following day. Guineas are useful as alarmists. A shot gun 

 well handled will bring down the enemy. Screens of brush or 

 boards in the j'ards into which the flocks may run, 

 afford protection. Set a pole with pegs in, to make ' 

 climbing easy, in the vicinity, nail a small board on 

 top, put a piece of recently killed chicken on it 

 with a steel trap on the chicken and fasten trap 

 with a chain. 



Crows catch only small chickens. Suspend in the 

 runs small panes of glass, or pieces of mirror, or bright 

 tin by cords from leaning poles or stakes. These swing- 

 ing in the wind and glistening in the light are feared by the 

 suspicious thieves. An upright pole may be set in the ground 

 with cross arms and wind-wheel on top, as shown in the illus- 

 tration. 



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