The concrete floor is unquestionably the most desirable for most poul- 

 try houses. It is rat-proof, sanitary, easily cleaned, dry, and relatively 

 cheap. Usually the roof and sides of the house are built before the 

 floor is put in, so as to protect the setting concrete from the sun. The 

 layer of concrete may not be thicker than 1^2 to 2 inches. It may be 

 made of the same proportion as used in the wall construction (i part 

 Portland cement to 3 parts sharp, clean sand, and 5 parts gravel). An 

 important factor to be observed in the floor construction is to separate 

 the concrete from the earth by 4 to 6 inches of porous material, such as 

 cobblestones, gravel or the like. This layer prevents moisture from 

 coming up through the earth and concrete into the litter, as it would 

 if the concrete were placed directly on a heavy soil. Furthermore, having 

 the floor above the outside level prevents surface water from entering. 



A common practice when laying concrete is to use a half inch of 

 richer material for a finishing coat to make a hard, smooth, wearing sur- 

 face. This practice requires more of the expensive materials, more time 

 in laying, and greater skill in doing the work. The desired smoothness 

 and hardness is nearly as well secured by mixing the concrete rather 

 watery and then, after tamping and leveling, troweling the surface suf- 

 ficiently to bring the water and cement to the top. It is desirable to 

 have at hand a rich mixture of mortar for filling in the small holes and 

 pockets left after the first rough smoothing. 



The walls 



The walls must be built to provide warmth, dryness and strength for 

 the house, ease of cleaning and disinfecting, economy in construction; 

 and durability. Warmth is secured by tightness of walls, floor and roof, 

 to prevent the cold air entering and warm air escaping. Dryness is 

 brought about by providing walls that are not likely to condense mois- 

 ture, and arranging for the removal of moist air before condensation 

 takes place. 



The walls should be tight. Matched lumber is cheaper in the end 

 than unmatched with battened sides. Planed lumber usually will pay for 

 the extra cost in the saving of paint and brushes. When laying building 

 paper always make the laps tight. 



Fig. 42 shows nine methods of constructing walls. Fig. 42-^ is rough, 

 single, unmatched boarding. This is too loose, cold and draughty. Fig. 

 42-8 is the same, with battens over the cracks. Battens are nearly as 

 expensive as double boarding if narrow lumber is used. It is not a tight 

 construction. Fig. 42-6' is single, matched board, planed on both sides. 

 This will answer all purposes for most sections in New York State. 



