52 POULTRY FATTENING. 



fowls against unfavourable weather. Given that due 

 attention is paid to cleanliness the latter seems to us 

 the better plan. Of course it can be realised that if 

 a place were not regularly cleaned (and in this respect 

 some of the fattening establishments are by no means 

 models), the open-air pens would be preferable. In 

 many places sun-cages are placed out in the open, 

 usually under a hedgerow ; and, in some instances, 

 a fence is placed in front to break the force of winds. 

 Pig. 2 is an instance of this, taken in the Uckfield 

 district. At the establishment of Mr. Oliver, near 

 Heathfield, who is, I believe, the largest fattener in 

 England, long sheds are employed, with open ends, and 

 these are excellent for the purpose, though in severe 

 weather some provision has to be made to cover up the 

 ends. What might do in a warm situation would be 

 inadvisable where it is colder, and we think that in 

 nearly all cases it is safer to have a good large, closed 

 fattening shed. This we may say is the plan adopted 

 in Ei-ance, though even there the buildings are often by 

 no means so roomy as could be wished, and we have 

 visited places which compared unfavourably with the 

 better tjfpe of Sussex sheds. Another disadvantage of 

 keeping fowls in the open air is that undoubtedly they 

 take longer to fatten, except in mild weather, the reason 

 for which must be obvious to all thoughtful persons. If 

 exposed too much in this way the process must neces- 

 sarily be retarded, they are more restless than when 

 in a quiet place, and moreover there is a great danger of 

 disease resulting from bad weather, though in a closed 

 shed there must be proper ventilation, and prevalent 

 cleanliness also, to keep matters right. One of the 



