Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-05-08

Poultry can be raised successfully
on any well-drained soil. A light loan,
which will grow good grass, is well
adapted for this purpose. while very
light, sandy soil, through which the
water teaches freely, will stand more
intensive poultry conditions, but most
of the green feed for the fowls kept
on such a soil will have to be pur
chased. A heavy clay or adobe soil,
is not as well adapted to poultry
raising, as such land does not drain
readily and it Is much more difficult
to keep the stock healthy, says Farm
9rs' bulletin STA, department of agri-
culture
Long stationary houses, or the in
tensive system, saves steps, but 1t is
easier to keep the birds healthy and
to reproduce tile stock under the col
ony system where the birds are al
lowed free range. Breeding stock,
and especially growing chickens,
should have an abundance of range,
while henH used solely for the pro-
duction OF market eggs may be kept
on ven small area with good re-
suits. Tho colony house system neces-
states placing the houses. holding
about cI.e hundred hens, apart two
hundred to two hundred and fifty
feet, So that the stock will not kill
the graSs. The colony system may be
adapted to severe winter conditions
by dra wing the colony houses togeth-
er in u convenient place at the begin
ming of winter, thus reducing the la
Dor during these months
Roof and Front
The roof is the most expensive but
q most important part OF the poultry
house, and should be water-tight.
Single roofs should have a one-third
pitch, while those covered with paper
or metal may have less pitch, or be
almost fiat; however the greater the
slope the longer the life of the roof.
The shed or single-slope roof is adapt
| cd to houses up to sixteen feet In
width. 1t Is one of the easiest styles
to construct. 1t allows high front
to the house, and furnishes a north.
srn slope for the roof on which roofing
paper will last longer than on root
which faces the south.
The combination and semi-monitor
roofs are adapted for the buildings
from sixteen to twenty-four feet wide
while either of these styles, or the
monitor and the gable roof, may be
used for wider buildings. The com
bination roof on a house over sixteer
feet wide gives the best head room
at the least cost, reduces the amount
Of surplus air space, and gives nea
appearance to the buildings; while
the semi-monitor and monitor types
are best for wide houses which have
central alley. particularly broode
houses.
The semi-monitor house usual!
faces south, while the monitor typ
of roof is frequently used on build
ings facing east or west. The gabl
! roof is used extensively for two-stor.
buildings, for brooder houses, and TO
incubator cellars This style of roo
] Is usually ceiled at or slightly abov
the caves, or the globe may be file,
with straw or some kind of absorben
material, which tends to keep sucl
houses dry and warm. The A-shape
!, roof is used for growing coops an
, colony houses which, with wall
inches high, provides large amour
of floor space with minimum amour
. of lumber; but increases the roof SUI
face, which is the most expensive par
of the house.
A large amount of glass in the iron
. of the house makes 1t warm durin
the lay and cold at night, as glas
radistes heat very rapidly Unbleache
muslin, or light weight of duck clotl
e is Used for curtains in the fronts {
: poulsTy houses. This cloth should b
C thu enough to allow a slow circuli
tioA of air without draft, which Of
l. jecl is defeated by using too heavy
t grSie of duck or by oiling or pain
= inS the cloth. The front of the hous
|, she1ld be high enough so that til
: Willows or openings will allow Il
: sur to shine well back during the wi
|, teS
Floors.
The best kind of a floor depend
I unal the soil and the use of the hoas
0 Oh light. sandy, well-drained soils
h dix floor is satisfactory, especial
! TO. small or colony henhouses.
i bo1.d floor is generally used whe
thu level of the floor in the house
frui4 one to three feet above Il
ground surface and in portable hous
on and which is not we'll draine
Board floors harbor rats and rot quic
ly, Sad should be raised some distan
IL off The ground so that cats or do
can get under them. which also
lows free circulation of air to II
vent the wood from rotting. Gene
% floors are adapted to long perm
nent buildings, brOoder houses, inc
bator cellars, ard to all permane
houses where an artificial floor is
y luired and can be built on the grou
level.
Roosts and Dropping Boards
FUH