The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-01-11
A MODEL HENHoUsE.

A MODEL HENHoUsE,
OF wisdom to start slow, or rather on
a small scale, acquiring knowledge Nv
observation, reading and experience
The other day fashionable young
lady stopped me on the road and tolS
me she was about to embark in ths
poultry business, and wanted to talk
poultry. This lady, belonging to ope
of the oldest and wealthiest families
in our township, was making actual
preparations to take up the chicken
business for profit and occupation. no
doubt fearing she might come to want
some day. But admiring her genuine
Anglo-Saxon grit. ! bid her God-speed
told her she had better go out to 'Ma.
pie Valley Farm" my boarding house,
and talk to certain lady of my &C.
quaintance residing there, and gel
chuck full of chicken enthusiasm
And out she went learned later
that eggs. this winter, are to be plen. \
tier, If not cheaper, from an overdose
of hen enthusiasm.
This lahdlady of whom speak is
and always has been, an excellent
poultry-raiser. / am fully persuaded
that women are better adapted to
poultry raising than we men folks are
/ have watched this particular woman
at the business, and she has often told
me that l was 'too awkward for any.
thing" about the henhouse, and was
better calculated to build henhouses
chicken-coops and raise feed for the
hens and chicks, than to care for them
When woman says thing she
means it, and took her at her word
Since that hour l have only watched
the modus operandi as a sort of chief
executive of the hen department !
built 'henhouse, and have repro
duced it on paper. What is wanted
nowadays is respectable appearing
house, roomy and not expensive and
at the same time comfortably warm.
would start my building with eight
locust posts set ~ feet in ground
with about 6 inches above surface
On these posts lay edgewise four 9xe
hemlock joists, spiked and toe-nailedto
posts in rectangular shape, 10x24 feet
with an upright 2x4 studding at each
post, of height to make the building
feet to square from top of post to
plate. A plate of 2x4 studding should
'un around the structure.
The frame, after being squared up
and braced, should be
veather-boarded with surface hem.
ock and well battened on outside.
Door and windows should be placed as
Indicated, with one window just oppO-
lite the entrance door and either wired
IT latticed for protection.
The overhead platforms for catching
roppings from roost should also be
nade of cheap hemlock, and roosting
ars conveniently adjusted above the
cards so a scraper can be worked
andily. The partitions are made OF
rdinary lath. latticed together, with
oOrs to allow entrance to either side
partnent or left ajar for laying room
r closed for Matching.
l should prefer single roof or slate to
void excessive heat during summer
late cools quickly after the heat Of
lie sun leavesit. A lining of some good
ermin- proof material adds some toex-
,nse but very greatly to the comfors
I'D profit of the fowls. The interior
the house should be raised by filling
, least six inches above the outside
'ound with tightly-fitting boards on
tier edge at base of building.
Nests can be distributed over the
'use to suit the needs of the fowls
ID convenient climbers adjusted a!
elk part of center room, as indicated
the illustration. One of the rooms
n be left off where less room and ex-
nse are required, leaving building
10x16, which would be large enough
r a flock of fifty hens or even
IRE.
Ny reason for constructing out OF
mlock is that that material can De
at from s12 to. s14 per NJ
Itch woald make the cost of construe
n at least one-third less than out Of
, cheapest pine, and last just as long
look equally as we'll