HOUSES AND YARDS. 76 



the stale nest egg breaking, ■which if it does, the nest, and even 

 the whole hen-house, -will become offensive. A. stone nest-egg 

 can always be kept in a nes,t, and if a hen wants to sit, a few 

 placed' under her form a good trial of her steady sitting powers, 

 and settle her on her nest before the real eggs she has to hatch 

 out are placed under her. 



If you keep more than one sort of fowl you must have divisions 

 in your houses. If it is built either agaibst the kitchen wall, or 

 back to some room in which there is in winter constantly a fire, 

 the effect of the warmth will be apparent in the greater number 

 .of eggs your hens will lay during the cold weather. Or the hen- 

 house could be built on to a gree'nbouse wall which is kept 

 heated in the winter. The nests should be resting against the 

 warm back wall, and the birds roosting on the perches will also 

 feel the benefit of the heat. It is astonishing how much fowls 

 enjoy warmth. This is the reason why cottager's fowls lay 

 often very much earlier than those kept by amateurs, because 

 fhey are generally kept in a lean-to outhouse buUt against the 

 cottage wall close to the fireplace. The fowls by this means get 

 the warmth of the fire, and in some cases they actually roost in 

 the kitchen. All poulti^y-keepers coixld have their fqwl-houses 

 runup outside some fireplace or flue, which would keep the birds 

 warm without the expense of an extra fire. 



Yard or Sun. — ^If fowls are pot allowed free range, which is 

 notalwayspossibleonaccoui^t of gardens or neighbors, a space 

 should be inclosed for them, either fenced off with 'Wooden 

 pailings or wire netting. In this run should be a plot of /grass, 

 and if possible a shrub or two for the birds to pick insects off. 

 If the space allows of it there should be a small covered shed in 

 one comer for the fowls to run under during the rain, as fowls 

 cannot endure damp, and under this shed should be the duat-baiA. 

 It is a downright necessity for all birds to roll or MArinthe^dust. 



