POULTRY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2159, 26 January 1881, Page 4

POULTRY.

[“ Mark Lane Express,”] Attention has been directed in these columns to some of the most suitable varieties of purebred poultry, which, when judiciously crossed, produce birds superior to their parents in all useful properties. There are other varieties which also make excellent table birds when crossed, but these we leave for another occasion, as we now propose offering some suggestions regarding the fowl-house and other necessary accommodation. The house itself depends so much upon circumstances that it is very difficult to advise as to its construction and internal arrangomento. Still therefore throe things which it is necessary to consider on building or selecting a suitable place for the poultry. First, that the situation is dry, and that the roof is water-tight. Fowls do not so much mind the cold, but a wot, damp roosting-bouse is moat injurious to them., and soon leads to oold, which often terminates in roup. Cleanliness is often of equal importance, for if this is not attended to disease and sioknrss are sure, sooner or later, to put in an appearance, causing the death of many birds, for, it it must be remembered, all the diseases that poultry ore subject to ore highly contagious, and if roup once attacks any bird, even with the greatest of care many of the others will become affected.

Daring the long cold winter nights. the birds reqnire a warm, sheltered houro, to whioh they can also retire during the daytime when the weather is wot and ununuolly soToro. Fowls themselves are not very particular us to where they roost, or whore they

lay, but it can be easily imagined that the more care and attention given to the comfort and wants of the birds the more they will reward us for our trouble.

Most people devote very little attention to where tie poultry are housed, or to tbo construction of suitable buildings. They generally odopt such conveniences as are to be found at hand. Others erect ornamental and expensive buildings for the accommodation of their birds. An enthusiastic pigeon fancier has recently built an aviary for his pigeons, which coet £350. This ho stocked with birds costing from £lO to as much es £SO each. We merely mention this ns showing the large amounts of money that are paid by wealthy people for high-class pigeons. Wherever the poultry house may bo placed care should bo taken to see that the roof is water tight and the sides free from cracks or openings, otherwise there will bo draughts, which produce swollen heads. It is wtll to have a window or some kind of opening at the side, near the roof, which during the summer time remains open, to allow any impure air to escape. In the winter nights it could be closed, but opened in the daytime. Some people allow their fowls to roost all through the year amongst the trees, and one would suppose that, soaked with rain, or with feet nearly frozen to the branches, this kind of treatment must prove fatal to the birds ; but if they are liberally fed they do not appear to suffer in the least. Still, we do not recommend the plan, bnt prefer providing the birds with a suitable house. For the perches nothing is bettor than some rough poles, throe inches in diameter, with the bark loft on, as in this state it offers a rough surface for the biifds to clasp with their feet. The perches should bo placed from two to three feet above the ground—not higher, otherwise heavy birds are liable to injure themselves in fiying from the roost.

A number of square wooden laying boxes, largo enough to accommodate one hen, should bo provided. If these are larger two bens often attempt to take possession of the same compartment, which leads to a quarrel and the breaking of eggs. _ These nest boxes may bo cheaply and expeditiously constructed with a fewjplanks for the top, back and bottom, and divided into small compartments with a narrow slip of board, a few meshes up the front to keep the eggs from rolling out of the nest. The bottom of the house is best covered a few inches deep with dry earth or sand, and the droppings may be drawn off each day with a fine rake, and the place has a neat and clean appearance, and is free from all unpleasant smells. The manure may be stored in some dry shed, as it is very valuable for root crops. In the event of there being no spare shed or out-house which could be utilised for the poultry, or supposing, as is often sfao case, that the fowl-house is required to bo moved, then a very cheap and convenient building may bo made by placing a frame on four wheels, and running up the sides in the form of a triangle till they meet at the roof. The two ends shall be covered in, one permanently and the other partly with wood, and the remainder being closed by the door. Such a house as this can readily be moved from place to place directly the ground becomes at all tainted. The advantage of such a building is that the birds can be taken bodily from field to field ; that is, if there is no fear of foxes or thieves. There are many other plans of constructing poultry-houses, and many of these can be purchased very cheaply of the makers, who are always ready to furnish intending purchasers with illustrated catalogues, giving the dimensions and price of each article.