Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1895-01-26
A MODEL HENHOUSE.

of wisdom to start slow, or rather on
small scale, acquiring knowledge by
observation, reading and experience.
The other day 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 &C.
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 1 speak is,
and always has been, an excellent
poultry-raiser. I 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 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 a thing she
means it, and took her at her word.
Since that hour I have only watched
the modus operandi as sort of chief
executive of the hen department.
built a 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.
l would start my building with eight
locust posts set ~ feet in ground,
with about 6 inches above surface.
On these posts lay edgewise four 2x6
hemlock joists, spiked and toe-nailed to
posts in rectangular shape, 1Ox24 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 well 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 to
avoid excessive heat during summer.
Slate cools quickly after the heat of
the sun leavesit. A lining of some good
vermin- proof material adds some to ex-
pense but very greatly to the comfort
and profit of the fowls. The interior
of the house should be raised by filing
at least six inches above the outside
ground with tightly-ftting boards on
outer edge at base of building
Nests can be distributed over the |
house to suit the needs of the fowls,
and convenient climbers adjusted at
back part of center room, as indicated |
in the illustration. One of the rooms
3an be left off where less room and ex-
oense are required, leaving a building
IF 10x16, which would be large enough
,or a flock of fifty hens or even
more. -
My reason for constructing out of
lemlock is that that material can be
purchased at from $12 to $14 per M,
which would make the cost of construc-
ion at least one-third less than out of |
he cheapest pine, and last just as long
md lOO1x aO11a1 1u we'll