42 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



of scantling nailed to the wall at each end will sup- 

 port them. Some amateurs have adopted the plan 

 of supporting the dropping boards on wooden horses, 

 so that the wall may be kept free even of braces, 

 thus lessening the number of cracks in which in- 

 sects can hide. 



Other poultry keepers have abandoned dropping 

 boards entirely, but set a board upright in the floor 

 to confine the droppings to the rear of the house. 

 Practical poultry keepers find that this plan greatly 

 lightens the labor as there are no dropping boards to 

 clean, and that by keeping a little earth, peat or 

 old litter under the perches, there is no trouble from 

 odors if the accumulation is removed every month 

 or two. Probably the average amateur will con- 

 sider it neater to use dropping boards and he can 

 perhaps handle the manure to better advantage. 

 Still, they have no place in some of the portable 

 houses now being exploited as especially adapted 

 to the needs of the amateur. If boards are used, 

 coal ashes, peat or dry earth should be dusted over 

 them to act as an absorbent. Wood ashes should 

 not be used if it is desired to retain the fertilizing 

 qualities of the manure. 



Nests twelve inches square and as high are serv- 



