28 CIRCULAR NO. 14 



reasonably smooth and level with the top of the foundation so as 

 to make cleaning easy. A cement floor should never be left 

 bare, but should always be covered with at least three inches 

 of sand and with from six to ten inches of straw. Because of 

 the little wear there would be on the floor it is not necessary 

 to make the concrete very strong, perhaps 1 :3 :6 would be 

 good enough. On a well drained sandy or gravelly soil it would 

 not be necessary to put in a floor of any kind. Under these 

 conditions a sand or dirt floor is cheap and advisable. The 

 level of such a floor should be higher than the ground outside. 

 Hens like a dirt floor if it is kept dry, as it gives them a natural 

 dust wallow, but must be frequently replaced to keep it in 

 a clean, sanitary condition. A concrete floor would make the 

 house easier to clean and in the long run might save consid- 

 erable labor and expense. 



Under all conditions it would be necessary to have a good 

 foundation extending at least six inches above the surface of 

 the ground, and down far enough so that the frost could not 

 get under. 



The house as shown is 12x16 ft. and will accommodate 

 eighty or ninety hens. Perhaps in special cases it would be 

 advisable to increase the depth to fourteen or perhaps sixteen 

 feet. 



Construction. 



The siding should be a good grade of shiplap or rustic 

 and must be lined with a good grade of building paper. Many 

 old houses were built with rough boards running up and down 

 and the cracks covered with battens. This is very undesirable 

 in a place where the winters are as severe as in Utah. The 

 battens work loose and the fowls are subjected to draughts 

 from all sides. The double wall is sometimes made by nailing 

 boards on both the inside and outside of the studding; this is 

 not necessary and is undesirable as already explained. The 

 only place that a double wall is necessary is above and behind the 

 perches. This is to protect the fowls from draught when the 

 rear ventilator is open. 



It would not be advisable to use shingles on a roof as flat 

 as this one. Where prepared roofing, either felt or paper, is 

 used, it is not necessary to cover the roof first with building 

 paper. Under no condition should a poultry house be covered 

 with boards and battens. 



