Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-08
AaOlce
From
The
Poultv
Doctor

sl1unks minks, foxes etc, low perCn
is lust as safe and a great deal oetter
for the heavy bodied fowls II must
be borne in mind that the Instance CIV
On at which perches should be pacel
from the floor applies to all oreeos -
fowls 1t Is true that SOME OF me Meu-
iterranean fowls would not in any way
be injured in flying TO ana nom
nerrhes but some of the heavy breeds
would and 1t almost impossible to
reach high perches and would sustain
positive injuries in alighting m the
floor from any considerable elevation
convenient walks or ladders can De
constructed which will enable ne laIs
fowls 10 approach the perches with
ont great effort, hut there are always
tunes when ever the most clumsy LOWS
will attempt to fly from the perch "
the floor and come DOWN VI a heaVy
thud which is often injurious. Anu
Furthermore. ladders nr stars Tor lhe
easy ascent of fowls are more or less
a nuisance in the poultry house. ne
ideal interior Arrangement IT the mouse
is to have everything that IS needed IN
as simple a form as possible ana il't
RI complfcale the arrangement by any
unnecessary apparatus. The fewer and
simpler the 'nterior arrangements tns
easier the house can be kept clean
and The greater he loor space avail
able for thc fowls.
There Is no reason why all percnes
should not be PLACED near the foor.
Movable p4rches are II he preferred.
A 2x3 scantlirg set edgswiso. with the
unper corners rounded. answers every
purpose and makes 4 satisfactory
perch. The perches should be firm and
not tip or rock. The form of lie se2nt-
ling makes IL easy to secure lem nrH-
~ and still have them removable.
Underneath the perches should al
ways be placed a smooth platform 10
catch the droppings This is necessary
for two reasons: The droppings are
valuable for fertilizing purposes and
ought not to be mixed with the litter on
the floor: then, too. II the droppinss
are kept separate and in convenient
place to remove it Is much easier 10
keep the house clean than when they
are allowed TO become more or less
scattered by the tramping and scratch
ing of fowls The distance of the plat
form from the perch will be governed
somewhat by the means employed for
removing the droppings. II broad
iron shovel with a toleraby straight
handle is used. the space between the
platform and perches need not be more
than six inches The droppings should
be removed every day.
In constructing nest boxes three
points should be kept constantly in
mind: Cd The box should be of such
a nature that il can be readily cleaned
and thoroughly disinfected; if it Is re.
movable so that it can be taken out OF
doors so much the better; (2) it should
be placed in the dark, or where there
is only just sufficient light for the fowl
to distinguish the nest and nest egg
CD there should b. plenty of room on
two or three sides of the nest. II is
well known fact that some hens in
seeking a nest will always drive on
other hens, no matter how many vacant
nests may be available If the nest Is
so arranged that it can be approached
only from one side. when one hen is
driving another from the nest there is
likely to be more or less of a combat,
the result of which is often a broken
egg. This perhaps. more than any
other one thing, leads to the vice Of
egg eating