Milford chronicle., 1916-03-03
Constructing An Ideal Poultry
House For The Average Breeder
By }. b. McFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights ReserVedD

feet, ample space is allowed to get abou
the house for purposes of cleaning. Tn.
placing of the roOsts lenghtwise has al.
so the advantage of easy access in clean.
ing the house. At the end of the house,
next to the shed and directly in front OF
one of the isles between the rOosts, a
door is constructed leading into the
scratch shed, to permit cleaning it east
/ ly. In the bottom of this door cut a
I hole, through which the hens may enter
the scratching department. Dropping
boards may be added if perferred, but
IN all cases, they, together with the
roosts, should be easily removed for
purposes of cleaning.
The compartment set aside for the
use of the brOOdy hens for purposes of
incubation should be provided with an
open window, wired as high as the
height of the house will permit in the
end, and door at the side.
The scratch shed is as highly impor-
tant to the health and vigOr of the flock,
and to their prOductiveness, as is the
roOsting compartment, and should there
fore receive special attention. Along
the open side there should be placed
boards to the height of about eighteen
inches; this prevents the birds from
thOwing much of the litter on the out
side. This compartment should be pro-
vided with a good litter of wheat straw
or some other equally good material.
All the grain food should be scattered
into this, in order to furnish exercise of
giving each individual bird an equal
chance of getting its share of the food |
This compartment should contain all
food hoppers, water fountains and YES
sells containing grit, charcoal and oyster |
shells, and in addition, good dust bath. |
During rainy or snowy weather the en- |
trance to the yards or runs should be |
closed and the fowls confined within the
scratch shed and laying house.
Don't be afraid to give the house plen-
ty of fresh air. All openings, however,
should be covered with wire mesh.
Frames should also be provided the ex-
act size of the openings and covered with
muslin. In extremely cold or blustry
weather these frames may be placed
)ver the wire to protect the birds. A
plant built after these suggestions will
'e found to meet with the approval of
almost anyone interested in poultry, and
t is indeed hard to improve upon it from
he standpoint of convenience and ser
ice.
Almost the same idea can be carried
ut, eliminating the scratch shed COM
'artment where lack of space prevents
making the building so long, and still
-etting the advantage of this desirable
In this case, build the house after the
anne suggestions given for the con-
truction of the laying and setting COM
artments, only raise the structure two
eet from the ground and utilize the
pace underneath the house for the
shed. If this plan is follow
d, enclose it on three sides and wire !
ne southern exposure the same as in !
ne first idea. While, of course, this !
ned will not be quite as convenient for !
le attendant, yet it will answer all 9
lrposes, and the results will be prac-
cally the same.
These suggestions are not given with Z
le idea that they are the only ones, out
J quiet tip as to just what must be 7
ken into consideration when the ques-
on of properly housing poultry is dealt &
lth, and / trust tnat you may be ben =
tied from them. Remember that .
leap material in the construction of
'ultry houses does not always pay in
e end, and for that reason, would
commend the use of tongued-and
ooved boards for use in your houses.