Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-08-11
-=@-5
zL.Z.F1 =

POULTRY HOUSE WITH SCRATCH
ING SHED.
come nstless. debilitated and "out OF
condition. aud what few eggs they do
lay be incapable OF Matching strong.
robust chicks that will live aud 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
OK 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.
thing 10 commend 1.-THE better
bealSh OF the birds, the greater pro-
iduction and higher fertility OF their
eggs. and, owing TO the natural
warmth from the bodies OF so many
OF them. the elimination OF supplying
artificial heat IN the roosting room AZ
night Moreover. by adopting the ar.
rangenent illustrated. il Is possible TO
duplicate the construction and have a
succession OF closed rooms and open
sheds, extending. II the ground Is sui.
pcienuy Level 10 allow Il, almost any
length desired
3 fhe shed part should be IOxiO feet.
the roosting room 10xS feet. The stills.
which should be laid az least a foot
above the surface of the ground. may
rest on stoue 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
seet from one another. For the stills.
as we'll as plates. rafters and corner
studs. 2x4 scantltng will do; the inter.
mediate studs may consist of 2x3 stun.
The stSds, Of coarse. want 20 be toe
nailed firmly 10 the sifis, the plates TO
the studs and thss rafters TO the plates
The front studs should be ~ feet
long. and the rear ones 5 feet long.
This wiz 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-
eeeted IN the cs1t- the sides should be
boarded up wfth good matched lum-
Der. To preveat the fowls from wan
dering away and mixing with those
OF other peas. and also protecting
them from bty<as and animals OF prey.
the front OF the scratching shed must
be incjosed v1tA wire netting; X Is
Convenient 20 have oce section OF II
made into gate 30 open and let the
birds oot ineo the yepd IN fro0f OF
the house.
In addition 10 the netting there
should be cloth curtain TO close
az night IL winter, or on stormy or
windy days. thus protecting the fowls
from snow-storms and piercing winds.
On clear days 1t should be lifted
soon after sunrise and kept up until
the sun gets low In the west. but IL
the weather Is very cold Il Is bet
ter TO raise n only for an hour or
two daring tbs middle OF the day.
and Ia case a storm or cold wind
preSaile. not at all. Such q curtain
may be Fastened at the top by nail
ing II In place with q strip OF lath.
and the lower edge held where want.
ed by means Of hooks having screw
eyes
With tAe curtain fastened down at
night II is not necessary TO csose
the door between the rcosting room
and scratching-shed unless the wealth
or n severely cold. and unless Il is
way below zero, the srali opening
at the right OF this door should never
be closed II VIII otherwise be warm
enoagh-that Is. IL the walls are
ceiled on the inside and the space be-
tween packed with straw or swals
hay, as II should be. BY opening
thewindow IN warm weather, and part
ly on very warm winter days. excel
lent ventilation at all seasons OF the
year can be obtained.