S/icds for Shelter in Bad Weather. 35 



have shelter during cold or wet weather. No matter how 

 large and comfortable a house may be, poultry have a very 

 strong objection to spend any portion of their time in it 

 except when at roost or on the nest, and the result is that 

 they often crouch about under bushes or even the lea of 

 the "house, sooner than go inside. This may be very stupid 

 on their part, but there the fact is, and we must recognize 

 it. Sheds should, therefore, be provided, and will be also 

 useful for the dust bath — a most needful provision. In 

 the case of any adapted out-house or shed, if large enough, 

 the outer portion can be made into the shed, or if not large 

 enough, a wooden erection about three feet high, and quite 

 as large as the house itself, with open or a wired front, 

 can be easily and cheaply erected. Where a hogshead or 

 packing case is used, it should be lifted sufficiently high 

 so as to leave a good space below. If the supporting 

 bricks are built in the form of a U-shaped wall, they will 

 be protection enough ; but if not, folding flaps of wood 

 should be placed on three sides so as to keep wind and 

 rain from the birds below. 



The small amateur who has accommodation for only a 

 very few birds, and must confine them, would do well to 

 so place his house that there will be a run on each side 

 of it. In a suburban or cottage garden this will not be 

 at all difficult, and the house and shed can be arranged 

 according to circumstances. The object of the double run 

 is to give the birds fresh ground, and thus prevent any 

 tainting of it, so great a cause of disease in small yards. 

 Only one run at a time will be used, and the other can be 

 planted with vegetables, which will be found to grow amain 

 on such a place, and be better and larger than any other in 

 the garden, and at the same time clean the ground. If each 

 run is thus used four months at a time, there need be no fear 

 of disease. We know of an instance where this has been 



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