Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-04-30

A large amount of glass In the front
Of the house makes IT warm during
the day and cold at night. as glass
radiates heat very rapidly UnbIeached
muslin. or a light weight OF duck cloth.
is used for curtains In the fronts OF
poultry houses. This cloth should be
thin enough 10 allow slow circula-
ton Of air without a draft, which OBJ
jet is defeated by using too heavy a
grade OF duck or by oiling or paint.
ing the cloth. The front OF the house
ahould be high enough so that the
windows or openings viii allow the
sun to shine wen back during the win
ter.
Floors.
The best kind Of a floor depends
upon the soil and the use Of the house.
On Hight. sandy, weil-drained soils a
dirt floor IA satisfactory. especially
for small or colony henhouses. A
board floor is generally used where
the level Of the floor In the house is
from one to three feet above the
ground surface and In portable houses
on land which Is not we'll drained,
Board floors barbor rats and rot quick
". and should be raised some distance
on the ground SO that cats or dogs
can get under them, which alec al.
lows free circulation OF air 10 pre-
vent the wood from rotting Cement
floors are adapted 70 long perma-
nent buildings, brooder houses, incu-
bntor cellars. and 10 ali permanent
houses where an artificial floor Is re-
qulrod and can be built on the ground
level
Roosts and Dropping Boards.
The Interior fixtures Of the pens
should be simple, portable and mex.
pansiye Roos,s are usually placed
next 70 the end or back wallis. SIX 10
ten inches above the dropping boards,
while the latter are from two TO two
and one half feet above the floor. They
should ali be on the same level. other
wise The birds viii crowd and Eight 10
get on the highest roost seantllng
2 by ! inches. with the upper edges
rounded on. makes good roosss with
either TIE wide Or narrow surface up
Allow seven 70 ten inches Of rooei
space per fowl. according 70 the size
u the birds. Roosts should be placed
about fifteen inches apart but the out
tide ones may be within ten inches Of
tho edge OF tho dropping boards
Kinds Of Material Used for Building
Houses made entirely of solid con.
crete are cold and damp, but concrete
Hooks may b. used with good results
Hollow tile makes n very good poultry
house, and Il can be bought Ia some
sectiona AZ a price which compares
3avorabiy. considering rs durability
With wood This construction ls we'll
adapted 10 incubator cellars and
brooder houses, or 10 any buildings re
aniring double willis and good iusuln'
lion.
All kinds OF wood ARE used in build
ing poultry houses. and any durable
lumber which Is available for that pur
pose may be used Tho lumber which
is 10 be used for the outside consirnc-
tion should be wen seasoned. other
Riee the slrinkage viii leave cracks
in tho wells. Tho best shingles are
made OF redwood. cypress and cedar;
and white pine Is also used Asbes
sos shingles are quite durable. but
more expensive than wooden ones.
Whitewash.
WhHewash is the cheapest Of all
paints and may lie used either for ex
torior or Interior surfaces. II can be
made by shaking about ten pounds Of
auicklime IN pail with two gallons
Of water, covering tae pail With cloth
or burlap. and allowing II to slake for
one hour, Water is then added q
bring The whItewash TO a consistency
which may be applied readily, A
weatherproof whitewash for exterior
surfaces may be made as follows: On
Stake one bushel OF auicklirne in II
gallons Of hot water; (2l dissolve two
pounds OF common salt and one pound
Of sulphate Of zinc and two gallons
of boiling water; pour (2l into ~
then add two gallons OF skim mill
and mix thoroughly Whitewash Il
spread lightly over the surface with
u broad brush.