174 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Question. — Is it advisable to build two-story poultry houses? 



Mr. Chapman. — Where the site is sloping, a two-story building 

 is cheaper, as convenient in all ways, and saves steps. I like mine 

 and should advise their use on hillsides, &c. 



Question. — What is the best elevation, front and rear, for a 

 poultry house? 



Mr. McGrew. — Low-built poultry houses are the best. If jn^t 

 high enough for comfort in the rear, they can be considerably 

 lower in front. If high enough to move about in, they are by far 

 the best for the colder climates. 



Question. — Why not have the poultry house run north and south 

 so the sun can come in from both sides ? 



Mr. Chapman. — Too many windows, making the building cold. 

 The south side gives a continuous exposure all day. The north 

 side gives shade in hot weather. 



Question. — How much glass should there be in a house for 50 

 hens? How near to the floor should the windows be placed? 



Mrs. Monroe. — If the house is built on the open scratching 

 room and closed roosting room plan one window in each roc-t- 

 ing room, about a foot from the floor. If closed house, one 

 window (two sash) for every 15 feet in length of house. 



Question. — Which floor is best in a chicken house, boards, or 

 ground, or cement? Why? 



Mr. Smith. — A board is better than a ground floor, and a good 

 cement one is better than either. What is needed in a chicken 

 house is dryness. Boards or cement, if covered with litter, make 

 the best floors for that purpose, and are easier to keep clean than are 

 ground floors. 



Mr. Chapman. — The best floor for a hen house is Portland 

 cement. Moisture does not come up from below, and it is easily 

 cleaned. I value it because it keeps out rats and other vermin. 



Mr. McGrew. — Dry floors are always the best. Dry earth 

 floors should always have the preference. Dampness being the 

 most injurious condition possible for poultry, absolutely dry 

 floors should be maintained. When dampness is present, dig out 

 two or three feet, fill in with srravel and broken stone and then 

 either cement or fill in with clay and sand as seems best for the 

 absolute guarantee of dry floors. 



Question. — Why does Mr. Chapman bank his hen houses? 



Mr. Chapman. — The frost goes through a solid stone wall; so 

 I prefer to bank it. A double wall, one wide enough, with an air 

 space in the center, might perhaps keep out the frost. 



