Hoi-Ladders. 



49 



letters \J or J ; the former are the best, as the perches 

 are not so easily knocked out by the birds. One of these 

 rests must be fixed at each side of the house, and the perch 

 ends made to fit them, taking care that the poles are not too 

 short, or they will drop out when the birds get on to them. 



In large houses it is much better to make a hen ladder, 

 which consists of two stout planks laid at each end of the 

 house, at an angle of about forty degrees, the top resting 



Fig. 2. — Frame for Roost. 



against the back wall and the bottom on the ground, or, 

 of course, by making a back upright to hold the planks 

 spoken of, it will not be necessary to rest the same against 

 the walls. Or, again, the latter may be made double, like 

 the letter A> with perches at both sides, though, for a 

 reason about to be given, this is not to be recommended 

 except where there are windows on both sides. At a 

 distance of about every two feet, notches are made on the 

 upper side of these deals, of course, corresponding with each 

 other, and into these the perch ends are dropped, and then 

 the ladder is complete. This ladder should face the window, 

 wherever this is placed, as fowls always roost with their heads 

 in that direction, and then the droppings fall on the floor 

 without touching the birds on the lower perches. If the 

 birds are allowed to roost the other way, each row will receive 

 the droppings from those on the one above. Fine soil or 

 ashes should be laid on the floor below the ladder, and raked 

 over daily, as by this means a most valuable manure is made, 



E 



