264 Poultry Rearing and Fattening. [aug., 



which has been specially constructed for the purpose, and so made 

 that it holds a single tier of coops round the four walls, with 

 ample space in the centre for the attendant to move about and 

 use the cramming machine. 



These indoor coops are made of the same size as those described 

 above, but the top and back are barred like the bottom and front, 

 and by this arrangement the air is allowed to circulate more freely 

 around the birds. There is no trough attached to the indoor 

 coops, because the birds are fed entirely through the cramming 

 machine. Ample indoor accommodation is also provided for 

 another lot of 200 chickens, so that the whole fattening plant can 

 hold conveniently about 400 birds at a time, and if the coops 

 were kept filled throughout the year the output would be over 

 50,000. As a matter of fact, during 1903, 48,560 birds were 

 despatched from these stores, and all of them passed through 

 the cramming process. 



One day per week (Monday) is fixed as a buying day, when 

 the members of the society send in their chickens to the stores, 

 donkeys and carts being utilised, as a rule, for their conveyance. 

 For the convenience and information both of the society and 

 its- members the following set of rules regulating the purchase 

 and sale of chickens has been drawn up and printed : — 



1. The day for buying fowls is the Monday in every week, and no fowls will be 

 received on any other day. 



2. The hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the day 

 stated. 



3. Suppliers will take their places at the front gate as they arrive, and lead their 

 animals round in regular order, delivering the fowls as they pass the front door, and 

 then passing round the store and out by the back gate. 



4. Chickens must be not over 4§ months old, in good health and condition, 

 and the manager is hereby empowered and directed to reject all chickens which 

 appear to be over the age named, as well as those under 3! lb. or over 5! lb., and 

 all which are scraggy, unclean, or unhealthy. 



5. Chickens are bought by weight, and each supplier is requested to see that he or 

 she gets a docket showing the weight and price of the birds, together with the price 

 in cash. Suppliers are requested to keep these dockets in case of disputes. Should 

 any dispute arise, it can be considered only when the dockets have been produced. 



6. All birds must be fasting since the previous evening, and if any have food in 

 their crops a deduction of 4 to 8 oz. per bird will be made, as the society cannot pay 

 for corn at the price of meat. 



As fast as the birds are purchased they are put into the 

 outdoor pens, and seme water is given them in the coops, but 

 they are not fed until the following morning. Frcm this time 



