The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-18
Poultry Houses.

The question is frequently asked: what
is the best kind of poultry house?" and
the answer given will be as different as
the individuals who give them are differ
ent.
One man is satisfied that poultry thrive
we'll enough with bestowing the very
smallest amount of attention on the hen
house. frequently they assign for this
purpose any chance corner in dilapidated
building or exposed situation; such a one
as we would naturally call, from its space
and structure, entirely unfit as lodging
place for fowls.
These poultry fanciers have occasion,
sooner or later, to grumble at the slender
revenue from their fowls; and if, in foot
ing up debit and credit, they find their eggs
have cost one, two, or three cents apiece,
how natural to blame the unfortunate
hens, who are innocent and unkuowing
sufferers.
The old fashioned barn yard fowls, who
pick up their living wherever they can
get it-also hardened and stinted during
the severe experience of their chickenhood
can, of course, bear more severe usage
than those breeds of more careful descent
but whether fowls are of low degree or
high pedigree, good generous treatment
never fails to produce amply plea sing re-
suits. By paying close attention to the
needs of poultry, it will be found that all
sorts of poultry are much the better for
comfortable rOosts in roomy, well-roofed
houses.
Perhaps nothing has more unfavorable
effect than leaky roof and a penetrating
draught
1t is absolutely necessary that poultry
house should be So situated as to command
an abundance of fresh air. If the house
is of stone or brick, ventilation can be Sc
cured by raising one or more tiles or states
high enough to save the fowls from the
direct current of colder air.
If the house be of wood, as is the
general rule, and the roof be also of wood
or of felt, the same object can be gained
by making slight crevices between the
boards, or by holes bored through the
door, The door itself may be loose fit /;
by this means sufficient precautiOn is
taken against the danger of cold currents
of air rushing across the heads of fowls
In house made of boards overlapping
one another, the roof may be perfectly
tight, and plentiful supply of fresh air
suns rays on the side boarding and doors.
lCuCC ~ 10 ehae uoSb "a pOAiOhNSu POui
try fanciers prefer wooden houses TO all
others, and certainly in warm weather
they merit the preference awarded to them;
while in winter, any too open part can be
stopped up with straw or hay. Ventila-
ton is a very simple and easy matter
where small movable houses are used, and
where they are not confined to one fixed
place, as is often the case when many are
congregated close together.
Earthen floors are the best but to re-
move from the fowls all temptation to
scrape them up, they should be beaten
hard, well watered on the surface, and
then smoothed with trowel.
E7Everv morning the houses should be
thoroughly cleaned, and the floor sprinkled
with ashes (wood ashes If possible) twice
week. Dry sand also should be used
freely. The inside of the houses, especi.
ally the roosts, should be washed with
lime every six months, perhaps oftener,
and the outer door kept open all day, ex-
cept in stormy weather.
See that the houses are not overcrowded;
give such food as your stock seems to
thrive on best, changing it occasionally
never Withholding sound grain as a por-
ton of the daily fare, and, as a general
rule, let no meal be very soft, especially in
the case of chickens.
If these simple precautions are taken,
success will be deserved and will be as
suredly met with, --HortlcMtNri5t