Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-10-14
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PRACTICAL DESIGN FOR A
SEMI-OPEN LAYING HOUSE

with soil, preferably sand, before the
balance of the house is erected. A
wooden sill is laid on the top of the
wall, upon which the frame studding
is built, with the siding carried three
the concrete. An arrangement of this
kind promotes great durability, for
there is no part of the frame struc-
ture in contact with dampness and
therefore likely. to deteriorate.
Board floors are usually short-lived
unless a free circulation of air is al
lowed under them, in which case 1T Is
we'll to build the house on piers two
feet or more from the ground. or on
wall having adequate openings for
ventilation. The piers should be built
of concrete. stone or brick for per-
should be charred or treated with a
wood-preserving compound to prolong
their life.
There is another objection to build
Ing a wood floor close to the ground:
1t offers q refuge to rats and mice and
perhaps other animals. These pests
are likely to occur on any farm, and
If means are not provided to combat
them, they will very quickly become a
serious nuisance.
Specifications For Practical House
The accompanying sketch illustrates
d COHllHuOuS ldylllS mousse Ol IHS
open front, monitor type, which has
been used by practical poultrymen In
every section of the country, and 1t
has given the fullest amount of salts
faction. 1t is common sense in every
detail contains no unnecessary frills,
1t is easy to construct and represents
the greatest economy in both labor
and material. In the cross section dia-
gram this house is shown with typ
fcal partition of boards and wire net
ting and a wire-covered gate, where
the house is intended to be divided
into pens. These may be omitted and
the house made as long as desired to
accommodate large units. If built one
hundred feet long the house will ac-
commodate about seven hundred Leg
horn fowls, or five hundred heavy
fowls. such as Plymouth Rocks or
Brahmas.
When built as shown, couple of
sure to be dry, and the space under
meath affords a cool retreat for the
fowls on hot summer days.
The sills are by 10-inch timbers,
supporting the floor joists of 2 by 10
inch material, which are spaced 1S
three rows and support the sills at in
tervals of about feet. The frame
work is constructed mainly from by
4-inch lumber, including the rafters
on the front slope of the roof which
have a short spar. The rafters on the
spaced "a inches on centers.
If a single floor is to be installed it
should be of fairly good grade of
matched flooring; otherwise, if dou-
BILE floor is contemplated. the rough
flooring may be of l by 12-inch
sheathing boards, laid diagonally
across the joists and overlaid length
wise of the house with 1 by 3-inch
matched flooring. Where necessary
layer of felt building paper may be
inserted between the two floors, which
Will add greatly to the warmth of the
building. The finished floor should be
'blind-nailed' so that no nail heads
project to hamper the use of a shovel
or scraper in cleaning.
Sincs shingles do not wear we'll on
roofs CT low pitch, houses of the she
roof type are usually rooted with a
good grade OF ready-to-lay patent
roofing. These roo1ngs, if they are
of known reliability, have rendered
the. greatest satisfaction and are to
be highly recommended. They seldom
require repairs, but an occasional
painting, and are very economical in
the amount of labor involved in laying
them. 1t is advisable to use two-ply,
and If the sides are covered with the
same material, use single ply on the
walls.
The walls may consist of matched
boards, covered with roofing, novelty
siding, weather boards or rough
sheathing shingled. The last three
named present the neatest appear
ance, but the matched boards are the
cheapest and equally as strong and
durable
AS general rule the semiopen
front house consists of one-third
boards for its front wall. one-third
curtain frames, and third win
dows and ventilators. medium
weight unbleached muslin is the
proper material for the curtains. They
may be hinged at the top and made
to swing inward or outward, or made
portable and held in place by wooden
buttons from the outside
The position of the windows in the
upper section of the front wall allows
the maximum amount of sunlight to
enter the building. and to reach the
roostlng compartments, where it is
Inost needed as a germicide.
The perches, nests and other inter-
ior fittings should be arranged to suit
the convenience of the operator. and
small doors cut in the front wall as
means of egress for the fowls. The
main entrance door should be located
at the end of the building, and IL the
mouse is long one. at both ends:
and they should be of generous pro.
portions so as to admit q pushcart or