The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
best plan of all, and if a flower or vegetable garden is attaehed to the home, nothing need be wasted, as 
the dro])])ings are of the greatest value for manuring purjjoses. 
As gahanised wire netting, two-incli mesh, is supplied at such a low piice, there should be no reason why 
the birds should not be eonfnied within reasonalile limits, thus seeuring their owner from the annoyanee of 
hunting the neighbourhood for the vagrants, and ol)viating the possibility of the birds being lost altogether, 
besides preventing neighbours from being worried by the birils' unwelcome visitations. I''or Cochins, Malays, 
Dorkings, etc., an ordinary six-foot paling fence will keep the birds within bounds; but for the lighter and 
more active breeds, such as Hamburgs, Leghorns, etc., six-foot netting above the fence will in most cases be 
re(iuired, unless the birds' wings are cut. 'I'his is ol)jectional)le in many ways, and often quite spoils their 
appearance. 
In treating the subject of I'ancy Poultry, where a few birds are reared annually for Show purposes, or even if 
it is desired to rear a few chickens for home consumption, it is advisable to provide houses and runs for 
the separate accommodation of the adults and chickens respectively, and if a grass run, however small, is 
available, the benefits that the birds will derive from this source is incalculable. This latter is not positively 
necessary, but is a valual)le adjunct to an)- Poultry yard. In rearing chickens it has been proved that they 
rarely do as well as wished if allowed to mingle with the adult stock. An excellent plan of management is to 
build two houses adjoining, one used exclusively for the breeding stock, and the other devoted to the entire 
use of the chickens. This will apply to the handling of one variety of Poultry if not kept in too great 
Fig. 4. — Combined Dust Balh and Shady Resort tor Fowls. 
numbers, and if the yards are swept out thoroughly and fretiuently it will in a great measure prevent the ground 
from becoming sour and unwholesome. Mg. 3 shows an excellent s\ stem where a few birds only are reared. 
One plan suggested by Poultry writers in other countries is to ha\e the floor of the house raised above 
the ground to a height of three or four feet, the space underneath providing shelter from the sun and rain. 
For our chmate (excellent as the idea is for colder countries) we do not favour this plan at all, and prefer to 
have a lean-to shed attached to the house, or to erect in the centre of the )'ard or run a roofed-in space, open 
at the ends and sides, with 12-inch boards nailed all round the bottom of the uprights supporting the frame 
and roof. This provides good shelter and a dust bath at the same time for the birds, and will assist 
considerably in preventing the visitation of vermin, which, however, would be encouraged to an alarming 
degree if the first were adopted. Fig. 4 is a combined dust bath and shady resort, which should be made in 
accordance with the number of birds kept in the yard. Fruit trees kept trimmed also provide good shelter 
from the sun, and at the same time are an ornament to the run ; and as those trees could be chosen for the 
purpose which are devoid of leaves in winter, they would serve a twofold object in minimising the power of 
the sun's rays in summer, and not interfering with the bt nefits derivable from the same source during the 
winter months. We strongly recommend the planting of trees where at all possible, trees planted judiciously 
assist considerably towards improving the appearance of a Poultry yard. 
Much larger and more complete accommodation will be compulsory if a fair measure of success is antici- 
pated in exhibiting, or if good results are anticipated in the form of sales of young stock, eggs, etc., and in 
designing plans the shape and si/.e of the land available must be considered, especially if a grass run is in- 
