328 



torn of the foundation and just at the outside as in plate VII, 

 and giving it proper outlet will prevent the entrance of mois- 

 ture to a large extent. The foundation should be high enough 

 above grade to prevent the entrance of surface water. 



Especial care needs to be taken in building the floor; its 

 improper construction is one of the most common causes of 

 dampness in hen houses. The board floor is generally dry 

 because of the air space below it. Because of the high cost 

 of lumber the tendency is toward the cement or dirt floor. In 

 either case, if special precautions are not taken the moisture 

 is likely to come up just as oil travels up a lamp wick. 



To avoid this the capillary attraction must be broken. 

 Whether a dirt or cement floor is used, remove enough dirt 

 so that 6 to 8 inches of coarse material, preferably crushed 

 rock, may be filled in. If a dirt floor is desired, spread some 

 finer material as cinders over the rock and finally put six inches 

 of dirt on top. Many people seem to prefer the dirt floor, but 

 it is not nearly so sanitary as the cement floor. It requires 

 much more labor to care for it properly. The cement floor is 

 readily cleaned and will soon pay for its extra cost in the labor 

 it saves. However, the cement will get as damp as the dirt 

 unless the precaution noted above is taken to keep the moisture 

 out. Over the crushed rock place a thickness of two ply roof- 

 ing and carefully seal all seams and edges. Lay the grout 

 above the roofing and finish with a half-inch finishing coat. 



What has proven to be a very satisfactory floor was con- 

 structed in the poultry house shown in figure 6 by laying clay 

 building blocks on their flat side on a bed of well settled gravel 

 and plastering the whole with cement plaster. This floor is 

 cheap and has proved to be warm and dry in the particular 

 instance in which it was tried. 



Single wall houses are cheaper than double wall houses and 

 this, together with the fact that they are generally drier, com- 

 mends their use. Whether or not the double wall can be made 

 entirely satisfactory the authors cannot say at this time, but 

 the single wall has proved to be eminent!}' successful. 



VENTILATION. 



Good ventilation without drafts is the second essential of a 

 good poultry house. Without it, it is difficult to have a house 

 that is either dry or sanitary. 



The hen, compared with other animals, has a high tempera- 

 ture which will average about 106 P. This means a rapid 

 combustion within the body and for rapid combustion much 

 fresh air is necessary. It has been estimated (King, Physics 

 of Agriculture), that a horse weighing 1,000 Ibs. breathes little 

 less than 3,500 cu. ft. of air in every 24 hours. A 1,000 pound 

 cow requires less than 3,000 cu. ft. Two hundred 5 pound hens, 



