The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07

the five floor joists are spiked at equal distances. The studs, cut to proper length, are then set in position, as indicated on the plan. Upon these the front and rear plates are spiked, and the five rafters in turn rest upon the plates.
 Erect Frame Carefully
 It is essential that care be exercised when setting up the frame. Every piece should be squared and plumbed, and all. especially about door and windows, ac- curately spaced.
 Horizontal braces should be spiked to the studding beneath the widows, at the bottom of the large ventilating door mid way between the latter and the sill. above the regular door and across the ends. These serve as supporters upon which to nail the siding and stiffen the whole structure so it will not be racked when moving. These Horizontal pieces across the ends may be placed about 20 inches above the floor level. and so act as sup ports for the droppings board
 Floor and roof boards run legthwise of the building and are securely nailed to joists of rafters. The boards in the walls are perpendicular. Matching should be done carefully and each board securely nailed to plate sill and intermediate braces
 Particular attention is called to the fact that the boarding on the rear wall ex- tends but half way up the plate. This leaves an open space the entire length of the building immediately below the roof. the width of the butt end of the rafters. This is for summer ventilation. A board of sufficient width to fill this space is hinged to the roof. This is swung upward during the warm months, but securely closed as cold weather approaches.
 The door is placed in the east end. This is feet inches in height, ? feet 6 inches in width, hinged at the rear and swings outward.
 end walls. but hen doors could be cut in then if needed to give access to yards. These should be planned with reference to the ultimate location of the building.
 The large windows in the front side provide ample light. Each consists of two four-light sashes, 9 by 24 inches in size. The upper sash in each window is hinged to the lower and swings inward, while the lower sash slide up and down on tongue or in suitable frame.
 Between the windows ventilating door is provided. This Is 9 inches wide and extends from window to widow. It is hinged at the top and swings outward
 The hen doors are two in number. one below each window. They are a foot square and slide up.
 Openings for windows and ventilating door are covered with %-inch wire. which serves the double purpose of keeping the hens In and sparrows and other pests out. This netting Is tackled on outside of the windows and inside the ventilating door in order to permit these to be merely manipulated.
 Furnishings Needed
 Interior fittings are most simple. The droppings board. S8 inches wide extends along the entire rear wall 21 inches from the floor. Two roosts are used. These are nailed to crosspieces. three in number, and the latter are hinged to the rear wall. When cleaning the. boards the whole roasting frame Is swung up out of the way If hinges with loose pins are pro- yfded, it is an easy matter to remove tn . roosts whenever this seems desirable. M
 For laying flock of 20 or 25 hens, six nests are needed. These are built in two tiers of three nests each, and are attached to the west wall between the forwa rd edge of the droppings board and the front wall In this position they are easy kto observe and care for.
 When putting on the roofing material it Is most essential that all joists be closely cemented. Further, the fabric should be tightly secured to the boards by strips or capped nails, to prevent it from being torn by high winds. Especial attention should be paid to the edges where the wind works in.
 For convenience in moving the building, the ends of the skids should be we'll rounded and holes boarded so chains or ropes may be easily attached.
 All Floor Space Available
 It will be noted that the interior ar- engagements are such that no floor space Is wasted. All fixtures are sufficiently elevated to permit the stock to use of square foot of the floor. This Is particu- larly necessary when a comparatively large number of birds are kept in the house.
 It may be considered presumptious to suggest any alterations in this welI- planned structure. but few points pre- sent themselves. and these are men toned below.
 The first has to do with the her doors. As shown. the bottoms of these are at the floor level. It is the usual experience that much litter is thrown out and wasted un- less the bottom of such openings Is slight Iy olove the floor. say four inches IT.