4 
The III us 'tea ted Book of Poultry 
house, and the perch placed four or five inches above it, a foot or more from the wall. The nests 
are conveniently placed on the ground underneath, and need no top, whilst they are peifcctly 
protected from defilement, and are also well shaded, to the 
great delight of the hen. 1 he shelf is scraped clean every 
morning with the greatest ease and comfort, on account of its 
convenient height, and slightly sanded afterwards ; whilst the 
floor of the house is never polluted at all by the roosting 
birds. For Cochins or Brahmas, the perch may be dispensed 
with, and the shelf or floor littered with straw, shaken up 
every night, and renewed weekly. This arrangement of 
house, allowing as it does of the nests being placed imme- 
diately under the perch, gives a greater amount of floor space 
than any other, and also keeps the . fowls from all upward 
draughts of air ; but daily attention becomes in this case 
absolutely necessary, to keep the shelf from becoming foul 
and infested with vermin. 
For enclosing the poultry-run, the cheapest material is 
ordinary two-inch galvanised wire netting, a yard wide. This 
will cost in England, retail, about fourpence per square yard ; 
in quantities it can be bought for less. It may be fastened to the supports either with broad- 
headed tacks, or preferably, and more durably, with small galvanised staples, which are sold for 
the purpose. For those who desire a more ornamental appearance, and no trouble in erecting 
supports, there are various poultry-fences manufactured. The cost of either of those represented 
will be about six shillings per yard, six feet high; and, being close at the bottom, these have the 
a Broad shelf, eighteen inches high. 
b Perch, four inches above. 
c Nests, open at top and in front. 
Fig- 3- Fig. 4. 
advantage of being proof against both chickens and rats. A much cheaper wire hurdle is made 
also close at the bottom, and six feet high, at 3s. 3d. per six-feet length. For Bantams and 
Hamburghs, this height is not sufficient, and the run must be either completely covered to confine 
them, or a ten-foot fence erected, unless the wings be cut. Brahmas and Cochins, on the contrary, 
will be easily confined within netting only three feet high, provided there be no top beyond the 
selvage of the netting. Quite sufficient support will be given to netting six feet high by posts 
one-and-a-half inches square, pointed at the ends, tarred, and driven two feet into the ground. 
