616 



Poultry on Stubbles. 



[Oct., 



large flocks of turkeys or geese can be utilised. In such cases 

 an attendant can be put in charge during the day and the flock 

 driven home each evening. 



Care should be taken not to overcrowd fowls in the houses, 

 as the health of the birds suffers considerably from confinement 

 all night long in the stuffy atmosphere, with a consequent loss 

 in egg production. 



The purchase of houses at the present high price is not always 

 advisable, but in many instances a little time and ingenuity 

 will provide what is necessary at very moderate expense. Rough 

 erections in the corner of a field 7* in afford all the shelter that 

 is required by a fowl at tins time of the year. To the right angle 

 formed by two banks of earth a third bank of turves can be 

 added, and a few sheets of iron, an old cart cloth, or similar 

 covering used as a roof. To make the shelter proof against foxes 

 or dogs, six-foot netting can be used to surround the con- 

 struction. If repaired annually, such a shelter could be utilised 

 for a number of years. 



A very useful temporary fowl-shelter can be erected by driving 

 a few stout posts into the ground and nailing to these a light 

 frame, over which netting should be stretched. Bracken, straw 

 or any other suitable material should be spread over the netting 

 and a second layer of netting placed over the top. After use the 

 straw can be removed and utilised in the yard, but the frame 

 may be left standing ready for another year. Simple arrange- 

 ments of this description should be so placed that the birds have 

 access to several fields. In this way any special field not avail- 

 able for the poultry to run could be shut off with a roll or two 

 of 3-ft. netting along the hedges. Less difficulty in stubbling 

 fowls would then be experienced. 



Quite apart from the use to which grain, otherwise lost, would 

 be put, much is to be said for the benefit the land will derive 

 from occupation by poultry. The manure is of great value, and 

 the birds are very useful in keeping down insect pests, particularly 

 the wire worm. 



It is often objected that if the birds are in fields distant from 

 the dwelling house attendance is difficult. There is also the risk 

 from thieves, both human and four-footed, but when such risk 

 is not serious the disadvantages are quite outweighed by the 

 benefits received. In some instances it may not be necessary 

 to close the trap doors at night. Not only is trouble thereby 

 saved but it is an advantage to the birds to be out at daylight, 

 and in some cases if necessary they may even be left 



