Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1914-01-30
seyeral. plans and arrangements be

tnere is less need for Scrupulous nj
tent1on to cleanliness and proyidin.
regular supplies of animal and yege
Table feed during summer months
This plan, however, has the following
disadvantages: First, extra cost OF la
Dor In caring for fowls In stormy
weather, when 1t will often be difficult
10 get around to feed and care for the
fowls regularly; second. houses bull,
on the colony plan. If built as well, COS,
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 al.
lows but about 100 birds per acre
while the continuous house system,
with suitable cards. allows $50 to 900
birds per acre.
The first consideration In locating
buildings is a suitable location for the
poultry house or houses. If possible
1t is best to select an elevation having
a natural drainage away from the
building. for damp ground means cold
ground. If the house can be built in
the lee of a windbreak or a hill or In
front Of farm buildings, so much the
better. A dry, porous soil, such as
sandy or 'gravelly loan, is preferable
to a clay soil, for the former is more
easily kept in a sanitary condition. II
1t is impracticable to select a soil that
Is 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 be warmer and drier.
When a direct southern exposure can
not be obtained a southeastern is pref
cradle to a southwestern exposure,
for fowls seem to prefer morning to
afternoon sun. A gentle slope facing
the south! is the most suitable.
1t is best to build the houses during
the spring OF 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 to dry thoroughly, and thus
may be avoided much of the dampness
so often attributed to them.
The size of the building required will
depend largely on the number of fowls
to be kept and on the size of the f1ocks.
From forty to fifty seems to be about
as many as is safe and economical to
keep together. With iocks of this size
about five square feet of floor space
should be allotted to each bird, which
will suffice In most cases where care
full attention is given to cleanliness
and ventilation. If the fowls are kept
in smaller fiockS more floor space per
bird will be needed. Where the eli
to keep the fowls confined, except for
a few days at a time. less space per
bird will be sufficient The smaller
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 a house
is the less lumber it will take. 1t is,
however. out of the question to have a
large house built square.
The building should not be so wide
that the sun cannot reach the back of
the house. otherwise 1t will be damp.
Fourteen feet is n convenient width IL
there are no alleyways.
The house should be built as low as
possible without danger OF the at
tendants humping their heads against
the ceiling. a low house Is more east
" warmed than a high one
When permanent houses are to be
built it is usually most economical to
erect them on foundations made of
brick, stone or concrete. These should
be built deep enough to prevent heav-
Ing by frost and high enough to pre-
vent. surface water from entering.
Where large stones or bricks are not
available good walls may be
LIN " ne SlOiiCo.f Ii az iipHG
If these foundation materials is availa-
Die the building may be erected on
4,
There are three general styles of
single pitch. the gable roof
IF double pitch with equal sides and
he combination with one long and one
hort pitch, I
The single pitch roof is the easiest to {
'uild. 1t gives the highest vertical
exposed to the suns rays and /
brows all the rain water to the rear. +
tut in order to have the back wall OF ,
height to allow a person to !
york conveniently in the rear portion !
Z the house 1t Is necessary to have the :
ront wall very ~high-unless a very !
light pitch is used-which requires :
luch o lumber for the front side 7
in the case Of the other two styles. 9
he gable roof provides for a garrett r
pace, which may be filed with straw,
helping to make the house warm
nd dry. r
The floor may be Of earth, wood or 6
,ment. Earth floors are excellent pro- 8
ldqd thay nra knpf dry Eypanf In 4.