The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-05-08
several plans and arrangements BE-


hrst, small focks on free range; sec.
ond. no expense for fencing: third,
there II less need for scrupulous at
tention 10 cleanliness and providing
regular supplies OF animal and vege
table feed during summer months
This plan. however. has the following
disadvantages: First. extra cost Of In.
Dor In caring for fowls In stormy
weather, when II will often be difficult
TO get around TO feed and care for the
fowls regularly: second. houses built
on the colony plan. II built as well, cost
more than a continuous house OF the
same capacity. for partitions, which
may be constructed largely Of wire
netting, are much cheaper than two
end walls: third. the colony plan nj.
lows but about 100 birds per acre.
while the continuous house system.
with suitable yards. allows 4JO to 600
birds per acre.
The first consideration In locating
buildings IL a suitable location for the
poultry house or houses II possible
Il Is best to select an elevation having
natural drainage away from the
building, for damp ground means cold
ground. II the house can be built In
the lee OF windbreak or n hill or In
front OF farm buildings. 80 much the
better. A dry. porous soil. such as
sandy or grayelly loan. Is preferable
TO clay soil. for the former In more
easily kept IN sanitary condition. IL
II Is imprac ticable TO select soil that
Il naturally dry the soil should be made
dry by thorough undertakings. A
purely sandy soil should not be Sc
lected
As sunlight and warmth are essen
tial TO success. the buildings should
face the south. Other things being
equal. they will he warmer and drier.
When n direct southern exposure can.
not be obtained n southeastern IL pref
cradle 20 southwestern exposure.
for fowls seem TO prefer morning TO
afternoon sun. A gentle slope facing
the south II the most suitable.
II Is best to build the houses during
the spring or early summer. for then
they have time TO dry out during the
hot days Lumber Is often rather damp
and should be thoroughly dried out be-
fore winter Cement floors and foun.
dalton walls will also have an oppor.
tunity 10 dry thoroughly. and thus
may be avoided much Of the dampness
a.. .ft.u atsrthutaI % than
The size Of the building required will
depend largely on the number OF fowls
TO be kept and on the size OF the focks
From forty TO ifty, seems TO be about
as many as Is safe and economical TO
keep together. With rocks OF this size
about Ave square feet Of floor space
should be allotted TO each bird. which
will suffice In most cases where care
full attention II given TO cleanliness
and ventilation. II the fowls are kept
In smaller tocks more floor space per
bird will I've needed. Where the eli
mate IL 80 mild that II Is unnecessary
TO keep the fowls confined. except for
few days AT time. less space per
blIu VIII
breeds. being more active and restless,
require about as much room as the
larger breeds
For the greatest amount Of floor
space for the least cost a building
should be square. for. other things be-
Ing equal. the nearer square house
Is the less lumber II will take. II In.
however out Of the question 10 have a
large house built square.
The building should not he so wide
that the sun cannot reach the back OF
the house. otherwise II will be damp.
Fourteen feet Is a convenien. width II
there are no alleyways.
The house should be built as low as
possible without danger % the at.
tendants humping their heads against
the ceiling A low house Is more easi-
iy warmed than high one.
when permanent houses are TO he
built Il IL usually most economical 70
erect them on foundations made Of
brick. stone or concrete These should
be built deep enough 20 prevent heav-
Ing by frost and high enough 10 pre-
vent surface water from entering.
Where large stones or bricks are not
readily available good walls may be
made from small stones In case none
OF these foundation materials Is avatla-
BILE the building may he erected ON
posts
There are three general styles of
roofs single pitch. the gable roof
or double pitch with equal sides and
the combination with one long and one
short pitch.
The single pitch roof II .he easiest TO
build. II gives the highest vertical
front exposed 20 the suns rays and
throws all the rain water TO the rear.
But In order TO have the back wall OF
sufficient height 10 allow person TO
work conveniently In the rear portion
Of the house Il Ii necessary to have the
front wall very high unless very
slight pitch II used which requires
much more lumber for the front side
than In the case of the other two styles
The gable roof provides for a garrett
space, which may he tilled with straw,
thus helping TO make the house warm
and dry.