SHEDS AND PENS. 59 



lis it is found that the birds fatten better when kept in 

 semi-darkness. Wonderfully perfect table poultry are 

 produced here, selling for two francs the pound. The 

 killing house to the .right is a convenient arrangement, 

 and keeps the fattening shed much sweeter, removing 

 the work of killing and plucking — a plan usually fol- 

 lowed everywhere. The pens here are rather more 

 elaborate than we use in this country, consisting of 

 substantial three-tier cages, each bird provided with a 

 separate compartment, and the whole made of solid 

 wood except in front, where there is an opening door. 

 Each compartment is fitted with a drawer below to 

 receive the droppings, and there is the usual food 

 trough in front. 



The different forms here described will show that 

 there is no slavish adherence to one kind of pen, but 

 whilst we prefer the single pen arrangement for the 

 better qualities of fowls, it is desirable to avoid undue 

 elaboration in any part of the oiDsrations. 



The following is from a description of the process 

 carried on at a large poultry establishment near Metz, 

 Germany, which I visited some years ago, and after- 

 wards wrote the account given below : — 



Twenty-four hours after the chickens are hatched 

 they are removed into cages, fitted in the various upper 

 rooms of the sohloss. These rooms, of which there are 

 six, are on the top floor. The cages are simple, having 

 straight lattice fronts, which vary in space between 

 bars according to the age of the birds. Sliding doors 

 faeihtate cleaning, and the cages vary in size, for, as 

 twenty birds are kept together, they need more space 

 as they grow. Out of these cages they never go. Be- 



