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POULTRY-CRAFT. 53 
CHAPTER IV. 
Poultry Fixtures. 
51. Roosts,— The reader will have noticed in the plans where the height 
of the roost is indicated the roosts are placed low down; he will also have 
observed that when more than one roost is used the roosts are on the same 
level. There are several reasons for low roosts. Fowls of the heavy breeds 
cannot fly to a high roost. Fowls of all but the lightest breeds often injure 
their feet by jumping from a high roost to a hard floor. When droppings 
boards are used they should be tolerably low down, both for convenience in 
cleaning, and that the least possible portion of dust from them may be 
breathed in by the person doing the work. The roost being but a few inches 
above the board, low roosts are most common, even for Leghorns and 
Minorcas. The object of having all roosts on the same level is to prevent 
fowls crowding one another from the roosts, as they do when the roosts are 
on different levels, and the fowls all trying to get on the highest. The 
amount of roost room per fowl varies with the size of the fowl. Asa rule, 
fowls sit close together on the roosts, even in hot weather, and when there is 
room to spare. For Leghorns 6 to 7 in., for Wyandottes and Plymouth 
Rocks 7 to 9 in., for Brahmas and Cochins 8 to 10 in., will be safe estimates, 
The roosts should be about 8 in. from the droppings board, and, unless it 
extends clear across a pen, should be a little shorter than the board. Some 
use 2 x 2 in. scantling for roosts, others prefer wider stuff, especially for 
heavy fowls. For short wide roosts, inch stuff 4 or 5 in. wide will do. For 
long roosts, stuff must be thicker, or the weight of the fowls causes it to sag 
in the middle. The upper edges of the roost should be slightly rounded. 
52. Droppings Boards.— These may be of matched flooring, or of 
sheathing surfaced on one side. Strips of furring 2 in. wide are generally 
nailed to the edges of the board to prevent the droppings being scattered. 
For a single roost, the board should be 18 or 20 in. wide; for two roosts, 
about 3 ft. wide. Droppings boards are a great convenience in a well kept 
house. A neglected house is better without them. If droppings are allowed 
to accumulate, the boards become saturated with liquid manure, and being so 
close under the fowls, make bad conditions worse. 
53. Nests.— On some of the best equipped plants the nests in the laying 
pens are soap boxes placed on the floor in the corner. These answer admir- 
