420 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



are built on a frame, with two frames to a house. The frames are 

 hinged to the top and on nice days are hooked back under the roof, 

 converting the house at once into an open scratching shed, as we 

 keep six or eight inches of straw on the floor all winter, chang- 

 ing the old straw for new as it gets broken up and trashy. The 

 openings for the curtain fronts are covered with wire netting so 

 that in bad weather the fronts can be raised and the birds are still 

 kept in the shed." — T. E. Dunphy. 



"Here is my idea of a cheap poultry house: Build founda- 

 tion two feet from ground and lay on it a double floor of rough 

 boards. Around the ends and north side of this floor, one foot 

 back from edge, nail down 2x4's. To the overhead joists nail an- 

 other line of 2x4's. To these, at top and bottom, are to be nailed 

 the boxing (boards) for inside wall. If the poultry netting is 

 stretched taut four feet, I think, is close enough for a board. Brace 

 the corners securely before attempting to stretch the poultry wire. 

 The outer wall is made similar to one described, except that box- 

 ing is nailed to sills and plates. The space thus formed is to be 

 packed with straw or other material of like nature. The loft is 

 laid of loose boards, or even small poles, and then filled with 

 straw. The front is built on the curtain-front plan. The inside 

 may be arranged to suit the individual, though I strongly favor 

 partitions separating roosting room from scratching department. 

 The roosts are built so as to touch no part of the building. The 

 plan here given may also be modified to suit those who prefer a 

 dirt floor. Roof it both ways and the house will be warm and 

 wind proof."— T. M. Polk, Jr. 



"Our houses are constructed with a south, open front. In 

 construction, I use 12-inch barn siding, fitting it close and strip- 

 ping the cracks with wide batten, or strips. I make the frame 

 8 feet, 10 inches wide, 4 feet, 9 inches high on the north side and 

 7 feet, 3 inches high on the south side, and make it any length I 

 wish. I use these measurements to save lumber. A ten-foot, 2x4, will 

 make the rafters, which I put on before I put on the siding, and 

 in putting the siding on, I put it even with the top of the sheeting, 

 in order to avoid all drafts. Ten-foot boards cut into two pieces 

 of equal length will side the lower side, and twelve-foot boards 

 properly sawed will side the ends without any waste. By con- 

 structing the house 8 feet, 10 inches wide, nine widths of the board 

 will be exactly sufficient to cover the ends. I put a 12-inch board 

 at the bottom on the front side so that I can staple the wire front 

 to it. I board up 12 or 14 inches at the top, on the front side to 



