Arizona republican., 1895-01-27
A MODEL HENHOUSE.

of wisdom to start slow, or rather on
small scale, acquiring knowledge by
observation, reading and experience.
The other day a fashionable young
lady stopped me on the road and told
me she was about to embark in the
poultry business, and wanted to talk
poultry. This lady, belonging to one
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, l 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 ac-
quaintance residing there, and get
chuck full of chicken enthusiasm.
And out she went. l learned later
that eggs. this winter, are to be plen-
tier, if not cheaper. from an overdose
of hen enthusiasm.
This landlady of whom I speak is,
and always has been, an excellent
poultry-raiser. 1 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 a woman says a thing she
means it. and l took her at her word.
Since that hour l have only watched
the modus operandi as sort of chief
executive of the hen department. l
built a henhouse, and have repro
duced it on paper. What is wanted
nowadays is a 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 Exc
hemlock joists, spiked and toe-nailed to
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
run around the structure.
The frame, after being squared up,
plumbed and braced, should be
weather boarded with surface hem
lock and we'll battened on outside.
Door and windows should be placed as
indicated, with one window just oppo
site the entrance door and either wired
or latticed for protection.
The overhead platforms for catching
droppings from roost should also be
made of cheap hemlock, and roosting
bars conveniently adjusted above the
boards SO a scraper can be worked
handily. The partitions are made Of
ordinary lath, latticed together, with
doors to allow entrance to either side
apartment or left ajar for laying room
or closed for Matching.
I should prefer single roof or slate t.
avoid excessive heat during summer
Slate cools quickly after the heat @
the sun leavesit. A lining of some goo
vermin-proof material adds some to e1
pense but very greatly to the comfol
and profit of the fowls. The interio
of the house should be raised by film
at least six inches above the outsid
ground with tightly-ftting boards o
outer edge at base of building.
Nests can be distributed over til
house to suit the needs of the fowl
and convenient climbers adjusted {
back part of center room, as indicate
in the illustration. One of the room
can be left off where less room and e,
pense are required, leaving buildir
of 1Ox16, which would be large enoug
for a flock of fifty hens or eve
more. ~ ID
Nv reason for constructing out
hemlock is that that material can
purchased at from $12 to S14 per
which would make the cost of constru
ton at least one-third less than out
the cheapest pine, and last just as lo1
and look equally as well.