Housing and General Accommodation of Poultry. 
9 
stood that a large quantity of water would be consumed daily), and if this is made 6 feet in length, 14 inches in 
width, and 6 inches deep, it will be found ample. A plug at one end is required to drain off the water when 
cleaning operations are in progress. The whole is coveied with a removable roof, which projects four inches 
over the trough on each side, and which being supported by six legs, 15 inches in height, is fixed inside the 
trough. This plan always keeps the water beautifully cool by allowing a current of air to circulate across the 
surface, and can be placed in any position, being specially adapted for the open run or yard, where no shelter 
can be obtained. Fig. 16 is a simple and effective drinking fountain, suitable for chickens, made from an 
ordinary kerosene tin. 
Fir,. 13 — Botiom Section of Drinking Trough. 
Fig. 14. — Koof of Drinking Trough. 
Before closing our remarks on this head we would wish to draw the attention of those interested 
to the great value of Poultry droppings as one of the best fertilisers— Poultry manure being more valuable 
than any other, since it contains liquid as well as solid excrements, whereas cow and horse dung contain 
but little urine, unless it has been caught by absorption. Ammonia is principally excreted with 
urine ; therefore, when the liquid and solid excrements are combined, this valuable nutritive element is 
secured for the plants, as well as the alkali and the phosphates of the solid excrements. All a fowl eats is 
contained in its droppings, except what is required for growth and production of eggs ; therefore, the quality 
of fowl nTanure depends greatly on their feeding. An experiment conducted on a large Poultry Farm proved 
Fig. 15. — Drinking Trough Complete. 
Drinking Pan made from ordinary Kerosene Tin. 
that a fowl in a confined run produced about 30 lbs. of fresh manure in twelve months, which represents a 
value of 3d. The nutriment required by plants which is contained in fowl manure is easily soluble, and 
quickly absorbed by growing plants. 
Fowls fed specially for fattening purposes produce a larger quantity of rich dung. Each fowl yields, 
therefore, an average of from 3d. to 6d. value in dung yearly, which, in large numbers, would amount to a 
con.j:derable item. So it behoves those who keep a large or small number of Poultry to attach some 
importance to the certain return from this so-called waste product. 
