18 BULLETIN No. 215. 



this requires more cutting and more labor to build. Where the 

 boarding runs horizontally it is hard to construct a wall which 

 will always be wind proof. 



SELECTING ROOFING MATERIALS 



A great many of the newer poultry houses are covered with 

 prepared roofing materials and are proving very satisfactory. 

 Many are constructed with such flat roofs that shingles are not 

 desirable. Roofing paper is cheaper and, especially on a flat 

 roof, is found to be more advisable. Where the roof is some- 

 what steep and shingles of good quality can be purchased they 

 will be found to be more durable. When prepared roofings are 

 used, it is always best to use a good grade of boards for the 

 roof. About the most satisfactory method in Wisconsin is to 

 use hemlock shiplap. The shiplapping makes a smooth tight 

 surface and one on which prepared roofing can be laid easily. 

 It will be found that roofing materials last much longer on a 

 smooth surface of this kind and will pay in durability for the 

 extra cost. Some of the older houses were roofed with rough 

 boards and battens. This type of roof is not satisfactory. 



MATERIALS FOR PARTITIONS 



Wherever there is only one poultry house a partition is al- 

 ways advisable as it permits one to keep the hens separated from 

 the pullets early in the winter and makes it possible later to 

 make up a breeding pen of the best fowls. In a small house, 

 that is one not over thirty feet long, one should use boards for 

 the partitions for about two feet from the floor. The rest may 

 be made of wire or cloth except between the roosts of the dif- 

 ferent pens where the boards should run to the roof. (See Mg- 

 ure 8. ) A solid partition at the back prevents draft on the fowls 

 when roosting and a solid partition at the bottom prevents fight- 

 ing. 



In extremely long houses it is desirable to put in solid parti- 

 tions, either for each pen or at intervals of about forty feet, 

 according to the size of the pen and the location of the building. 

 In a windy location solid partitions will be found necessary more 

 frequently in order to cut down the draft. Where cloth is used 

 as a part of the partitioning, it will be found necessary to change 

 it frequently. In most places wire will usually be found most 

 advantageous. Long houses should have doors in each parti- 

 tion arranged in a straight line and hung with double acting 



