POULTRY FIXTURES AND DEVICES 



67 



Usually fowls crowd together upon the roosts 

 even in warm weather and when there is plenty of 

 room. They should not, however, be compelled to 

 sit closely. It is well to calculate on about 10 

 inches for each Asiatic fowl, 9 inches for fowls of 

 the American class and 7 inches for Mediterranean 

 breeds. Roosts should be placed about 8 inches 

 above the dropping boards, which should be some- 

 what longer than the roosts 

 themselves. For light 

 fowls 2x2-inch scantling 

 with rounded corners is 

 very popular, especially if 

 the roosts must be rather 

 long; but where short 

 roosts are used i-inch stuff 

 3 to 5 inches wide is often 

 used. For convenience 



>-iL. 



B 



VERMIN-PROOF ROOST 



Staples, C, hold wire 

 bracket, A, for roost, D, 

 kept In place by screw B. 

 roosts may be made to lift Remove often and dip end 

 -' m kerosene. 



out of the way by some 



such device as illustrated herewith, so that clean- 

 ing may be undertaken without difficulty. Always 

 the upper edges of the roost should be rounded. 

 One important thing about roosts is that they should 

 be easily removed for cleaning, especially to get 

 rid of lice and mites. 



Dropping boards are used for convenience in 

 cleaning and to prevent dust. If the houses are well 

 kept they are very useful, but if cleanliness is not 

 observed they are worse than nothing at all, because 

 where the droppings are allowed to stay from day 

 to day the boards become saturated and offensive 

 odors are given off, thus making the quarters 

 exceedingly unpleasant as well as unhealthful for 

 the fowls. Matched flooring or sheathing which 



