Housing and General Accommodation of Poultry. 
material and expenditure of time and labour ; and if fruit-bearing trees are grown for shade, with a possible 
return from the fruit thus grown, it will materially assist in making Poultry Farming a profitable undertaking. 
If the area at command is two acres in extent, this should allow of subdivision into four or eight, 
50 head in each if the smaller number of divisions are selected as being the most suitable, and only 
half that number if the eight divisions are preferred. There is much to be said in favour of the latter 
(though, of course, the work attached to their management would l)e considerably uicreased), as fowls do 
better in flocks of 25 than in larger numbers. liy this svstem it would recjuire 10 acrts to accommodate 
1,000 head of laying hens, ratlier more land being recjuired than is generally (|Uoted by other writers to 
locate the same number of birels. ]l will be seen that the ground is not nearl)' so liable to l)ecome foul and 
unhealthy as if they were kejit in a more eijniined space, and in the end, if profit is the main consideration, 
the results would be far more satisfactor)' if the birtls are given a good range, such as tlu' s[)ace (|uoted will 
allow. It is possible to keej) for a few years a far greater number on the same area as that given, but 
necessarily the land would recjuire turning over with the plough every few months. 'I'his can Ije obviated by 
allowing sufficient land when first starting, and would not interfere with the trees planted or with the grass. 
Overcrowding is, without exception, the greatest error the beginner in Poultry Farming is likely to fall into, 
and the baneful effects of this mistake are very great, often causing complete failure. 
If the houses are built on the system advised, the nest boxes may be fixed along the dividing 
walls, using the portable ones described by Fig. 2 in this chapter, the advantages being that they are so 
readily and easily cleaned, and it is wise to provide sufficient nests for the inmates, economy on this head 
Fig. 9. — Wood and Wire Lice-proof Roost for Fowls. 
being a mistake, as with fewer nests the hens are likely to scramble and quarrel with one another, 
and the eggs will be broken in such numbers that the initial outlay is warranted to avoid this. Poultry 
are creatures of habit, and the more systematically they are housed, cared, and fed, so much more there 
is a certainty of profit attached to the enterprise. The perches in these houses should be strong and stout 
enough, and made and placed in such a manner that there will be no difficulty in removing while cleaning 
operations are in progress, the ends of the roosts being a favourite breeding ground for insect pests, so 
that a little attention given this detail will enable the attendant to coi)e with the difficulty. 
Before starting to build Poultry Houses on an extensive scale a simple plan should be designed, and 
timber, iron, wire netting, etc., purchased in such suitable lengths and quantities as to avoid needless waste ; 
also, [)rovision should be made to have all doors and gates made wide enough to allow a wheelbarroW to pass 
through easily, thus saving a vast amount of annoyance and labour. To provide water for the fowls, an inch 
pipe carried through the buildings, with taps at or near the drinking fountains in each compartment, and 
attached to the supply, whether a tank placed to receive the roof drainage (which is applicable to many 
positions where no other supply is close at hand), or from any other source, will be advantageous in many 
respects, and a great saving in time and labour — two weighty considerations in the working of a Poultry 
Farm of any magnitude. 
AVe can recommend the following plan for the prevention of lice and that worst of all pests, the red 
mite, which the Poultry Farmer or Fancier will be fortunate if not pestered with in the roosting house or 
houses. Fig. 9 will illustrate the idea : The roo-st is made from the ordinary pole described previously in 
