The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-05-22
In order to keep tho house warm

In order to keep tho house warm
batten every crack and bank up
about the bottom. For banking, drive
stakes about eight inches from the
outside of the wall. Place old boards
inside these Some distance from the
stakes dig q trench and throw the
earth between the boards and the
walls until solid bank of soil two
feet high and eight inches thick is
formed all around the chicken house
except at the door. This will keep
the floor warm and prevent all
draughts. This is an important item,
as the fowls are on the floor most OF
the time during the day.
Every farmer should have at least
twenty-five chickens - twenty-four
hens and n rooster. For these a
house 10xl4 feet and seven feet high
under the caves is sufficient for both
summer and winter. For the frame
use 2x4 scantling; cover these on the
outside with matched board or ordi-
nary smooth boards and battens. For
the roof use good shingles. All the
lumber should be smooth on both
sides. You can then paint the out
side of the house and whitewash the
inside.
Some professionals heat their poul-
try houses with stove during the
coldest days, but this is expensive and
requires careful manipulation. II the
fire gets low or goes out the fowls are
apt to take cold and have theroup. If
the climate is very cold sheathe the
inside of the house and pack the space
between the outer and inner walls
with sawdust. Here the harder
breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks, Wy
andottes, Brahmas, etc, will do we'll
without artificial heat. They will lay
all winter. Whore the thermometer
seldom goes lower than eight or ten
degrees below zero lining of tarred
paper is usually sufficient. Never
choose a tender, large-combed variety
of chickens if you live in q cold eli.
mate.
Provide large windows for the south
side of the house. For twenty-five
fowls place three roost poles across
one end. Let them rest on q strip of
board nailed to the wall two feet from
the floor. A piece of one-inch board
two inches wide with rounded edges
will answer. Place the first one foot
from the wall and the other two II
feet apart. These can be removed
when the house is being cleaned.
Six nests ten inches square, two feet
from the floor and on the end opposite
the roosts, will provide sufficient room
for laying. Never place them on the
floor of the house. Have solid par
tition between each, so that the hens
cannot fight. Line with soft straw,
never hay. Clean out four times
year and burn the old material. Nests
used for setting hens must be cleaned
before putting in the eggs and after
the chickens are Matched. 1t is a good
plan to sprinkle little sulphur in the
bottom of each nest as there is where
lice usually start.
Clean out from under the roosts at
least once a week, sweeping the whole
house clean. A little land plaster
sprinkled about prevents bad odors,
adds to the value of the manure and
keeps the floor from rotting. The
floor should be six inches above the
ground, made of dressed and matched
lumber. The ground beneath it must
be well drained so no water will stand
near the house. Make box 3x4 feet
and one foot high with sides sloping
outward. Into this put about three
inches of fine gravel. This will take
the place of oyster shells and is much
better for the fowls. A flock of chick.
ems treated as directed above will be
source of pleasure and one of the most
profitable kinds of live stock. k.-New
York Agriculturist.