48 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE FITTINGS AND RUNS,. 



Perches — Nest Boxes — Sheds — Unfenced Runs— Space to be given — Fencing. 



The perches should be regulated according to the kind of 

 birds kept. For heavy ones, such as Brahmas, Cochins, 

 Dorkings, Langshans, Scotch Greys, and Plymouth Rocks, 

 a foot above the ground is quite high enough, as birds are 

 often injured in flying down from high perches, or, what 

 is equally as bad, roost upon the ground and are cold and 

 starved all the night through. Some time ago we saw a 

 capital perch for Brahmas, made of strong wood, about four 

 inches wide, and in the form of a huge T> the three ends 

 resting upon cement blocks built into the walls, and of course 

 lying lengthwise parallel with the floor. We also give from 

 Mr. Tegetmeier's Poultry Book an illustration (Fig. 2) of 

 a capital frame for heavy fowls to roost upon, which has the 

 decided advantage of being easily moved. Perches should 

 always be made so that they can be got out of, and into the 

 house without difficulty. As a rule, for lighter birds, where the 

 perches are placed higher, fir poles sawn in two make the best 

 ones, but when these cannot be got, oval shaped bars, about 

 three inches in diameter and sawn in two., are most suitable. 

 Or if flat ones are used tbey should not be narrow, but 

 have the edges taken off. In small houses it is best to got 

 thick bent iron or wooden supports, made in the form of the 



