The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-24
sANITARY FLOORS FOR
POULTRY, SHEEP
AND HOG HOUSES

ponltrymen and sheep and hog
,reeders are finding concrete a very
Ratisfactory floor material for their
kuiIdings Concrete floors have no
kracks in which lice, ticks and sim
liar yermin can breed and are like
rise proof against the attack of rats
md other destructive animals. More
nver concrete floors do not harbor
6isease germs and can be easily clean
"a and disinfected. Properly built
nd cared for. they are not damp and
a. not causer heumatism.
Planning and Laying Out Floor.
The first step in building the floor
to remove all manure and other
oreign matter and then to grade the
Iurface Of the ground. II needed,
ay all water pipes and the drains
necessary for keeping the ground dry,
for carrying of waste water and for
conducting the liquids to the manure
ssary must be dampened and
thoroughly tamped. This work
bhoud be done as long as possible be-
lore building the floor. Keep the con-
crete from direct contact with the
Earth by covering the entire surface
OF the ieveled-off ground with six to
eight inches of coarse crushed rock
or screened gravel.
For grading the surface Of the
hOors use a carpenters spirit level
tor water leveD and a chalk line.
A four-inch thickness of concrete is
sufficient Slope the floor ne-eighth
inch per foot in such direction that
the rain or scrub water will cause
the least inconvenience. For poultry
houses this will usually be toward
the door; for sheep sheds and hog
houses. away from the animals bed
and in the direction of the cutters.
Mixing and Laying tho Concrete.
The usual proportions Of concrete
Tor such floors are I cubic foot of
Portland cement to 1-2 cubic feet of
pand TO 5 cubic feet Of crushed rock
or screened gravel, or 1 part of ce-
These materials are measured on the
basis that 1 bag Of cement (loOse)
equals cubic foot. Mix them thor
Ough:y on a tight wooden platform
never on the ground) and use enough
kater to make the concrete "Quaky."
Lay the floor in q manner similar
20 sidewalk construction. If the sand
and rock are first in quality, nc
finishing mortar is required. Such q
mortar is generally mixed I part CO
mont to parts sand and Is applied
n inch in thickness) to the 3-incf
concrete base before the latter hal
eesun to set. Top rOvide good foot.
ing for animals, the door should b<
finished merely with q wooden float
a steei-trowel finish Is entirely too
smooth and. if made, should b,
Ioughened with stable broom
should removable wooden or gas pip
pen divisions be used, make mortise
Tor them in the floor at the prOpe
ht vvpcN l~~
GAS pipe or drain tile. or by tampinl
the concrete around tapering grease<
wooden cores, which must be with
urawn as soon as the concrete ha
stiffened.
with the proportions given above
bags OF cement G barreD, 3-8 cubi
yaeu OF sand and "a cubic yard o
crushed rock will lay a section of foo
teet square by inches thick. Tn
cost Tor the materials alone will b
soout $2.30. AS to the labor. ordi
nary farm help can do the worl
very we'll
Tropcr Care Of Aaninlals and F7O0s
Resardless of the material used 70
."e moor. a certain amount Of cover
hs must bep rovIded for floors G
r1uses n%s for poultry, sheep and hOg
loors OF poultry houses should b
.overed with a layer Of sand or lii
- me moor or the sleeping quar-
.SIs OF hog house should be pro
uded with a removal Slated woode
p,auorm. which must be we'll SUP
PMeo with bedding of straw or lite
nhewise the floor Of sheep bee
should be kept bedded especially dul
ing the lambing season.
-, Nohcrete floors are the cheapest (
sney never have to be repaired or r,
paced Moreover they can be flusl
~ out with hose or thoughly di
sc'ed ,"..d with oil or other substanc,
Uncut injury to the concrete. The
~ sHective in aiding the preventiC
80 vhoiera and foot-rot. On accOul
10 ene'r sanitary qualities they Grea
~ 'Ii'ttease the profits Of poultry, shet
ahd hog raising
here Is a certain demand abrO;
n, uIe black wool and one f1ot
S.cr r IN this country has cstablisht
x burT bred flock of black sheep