The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-09-13

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POULTRY HOUSE WITH SCRATCH
ING SHED.
come listless, debilitated and "ort of
condition" and what few eggs they do
lay be incapable of Matching strong.
robust chicks that will live and grow.
Best of all, however, by using a
house with a scratching-shed, as many
again birds can be kept as compared
with the closed pen. Hence, the cost
IF the scratching-shed does not add
anything In the way of expense, as far
as having buildings to Accommodate a
certain number of fowls is concerned.
On the other hand there is every
hing to commend 1.-THE better
health Of the birds, the greater pro-
iuction and higher fertility of their
eggs, and, owing to the natural
warmth from the bodies of so many
If them, the elimination of supplying
artificial heat in the roosting room at
1ight. Moreover, by adopting the ar
eangement illustrated, it is possible to
duplicate the construction and have a
succession of closed rooms and open
sheds, extending, if the ground is SUI
tciently level to allow 1t, almost any
length desired.
The shed part should be 10x10 feet.
he roosting room 10xS feet. The stills.
which should be laid at least a foot
above the surface of the ground, may
rest on stone or brick foundations, or
posts set into the ground below the
usual frost line; these piers" should
be located at a distance of about five
feet from one another. For the stills.
rs we'll as plates, rafters and corner
studs, 2x4 scantling will do; the inter.
mediate studs may consist of 2x3 stuff.
The studs, of course, want to be toe.
nailed firmly to the stills, the plates to
he studs and the rafters to the plates.
The front studs should be ~ feet
long, and the rear ones s feet long.
This will give a fairly good pitch to
the roof on which any first rate roof.
ing may be used. The house, OF
course. should face toward the south.
After provisions have been made
for the window and doors, as is sug.
gested in the cut, the sides should be
boarded up with good matched mm- |
Der. To prevent the fowls from wan |
dering away and mixing with those |
OF other pens. and also protecting |
them from birds and animals of prey. /
the front of the scratching must |
be inclosed with wire netting; it is
to have one section of 1t 1
made into gate to open and let the /
birds out into the yard in front of
the house.
In addition TO the netting there I
should be a cloth curtain to close
at night in winter. or on stormy or
windy days, thus protecting the fowls
rom snow-storms and piercing winds.
IN clear days it should be lifted
soon after sunrise and kept up until
he sun gets low in the west, but il
he weather is very cold it is bet.
er to raise ii only for an hour or
wo during the middle of the day,
md in case storm or cold wind
prevails, not at all Such a curtain
nay be fastened at the top by nail
ng ii in place with a strip OF lath.
md the lower edge held where want
ID by means of hooks having screw
Eyes.
With the curtain fastened down at
light. 1t is not necessary to close
he door between the roosting room
nd scratching-shed unless the wealth
II is severely cold. and unless il is
way below zero, the small opening
{ the right of this door should never
% closed. II viii otherwise be warm
nough-that is, If the walls ara
eiled on the inside and the space be-
ween packed with straw or swals
ay, as II should be. BY opening
he window in warm weather, and part.
on very warm. winter days, excel
mt ventilation at all seasons of the
ear can be obtained.