The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-07-29
POULTRY
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Foundations of Poultry Houses.

fllmSy foundations for poultry
houses should never be tolerated IN
construction. The foundation has
much to do with the serviceability
of the structure. Too often the foun-
dation consists simply OF the soil.
The joists rest on the ground and
are subject to all the moisture that
permeates the soil summer and win
ter. The water runs under the house
and never dries out. 1t remains an
unhealthy plot of ground, always rem
dering damp the floor just above 1t.
Sometimes the low space becomes
harbor for all kinds of undesirable live
things, like rats, snakes, skunks, and
even cats that prowl O. nights. What
ever the foundation is, see that it is
firm enough so that it cannot be pene-
trated and deep enough so that it
cannot be burrowed under.
The construction of the foundation
will depend good deal on whether
the building is to be permanent or not.
If it is a temporary structure, the
foundations cannot, of course, be made
expensive. On the other hand, if the
structure is to remain in one place
Indefinitely it is better to build It
of brick, stone or cement. Just the
kind Of material to be used will de-
pend on the locality. Thus, a farmer
living on soil made of glacial drift
has a great surplus of stones, which
can be utilized by being laid in ce-
ment. Often such material will cost
nothing, but will prove very substan-
.tial. A really good foundation should
be laid in ditch carried down below
the frost line. This will prevent heav-
ing or settling of the building will
prevent the burrowing Of animals, and
will help to keep the cold from the
space under the floor, If there be one.
Whatever foundation is constructed,
there should be some provision for
ventilation. Small apertures should
be left, which should be closed by inch
permanently in the cement if desired
1t might be profitable to use even
closer wire, as any mesh can be OBJ
tanned. The wire should be heavy,
to insure permanency. This Ventila
tion is not needed if there is to be no
floor to the house, as then there will
be free access to the timbers on
the inside. In the case of wooden
floors and wooden sills being used, the
ventilation prevents rOtting.
The use Of concrete is becoming
popular. Many farmer can construct
a concrete foundation without the help
of skilled labor. He needs only to be
careful about the measurements and
the angles, but most farmers have
squares and tape measures and foot
rules. The concrete foundation should
be laid in trench dug where the
foundation is to go, care being used
to get the trench below the frost line.
Then measure the angles and drive
down stakes. Other stakes may be
driven in such position as to permit
boards being nailed against them along
where the foundation is to be laid
Two rows of boards should be laid,
the thickness of the wall apart. Then
can be mixed with the cement and
the wet mixture poured in. The en-
tire height Of the wall may be laid
at one time or only in layers, the
boards being lifted up after the ce-
ment below has hardened enough to
hold its form. The superstructure
should not be placed on this cement
foundation till it has hardened suf-
,ficiently to bear any ordinary weight.