THE POULTRJ HOUSE AND EQUIPMENT 519 



or $40. A fairly good type of colony house has both a door 

 and window in front, the latter being covered with wire 

 screening, and with a curtain to be used for cold weather 

 protection. A small window in one end, for both ventila- 

 tion and light, and a wooden floor are also desirable features. 

 Poultrymen having houses differing widely in style of con- 

 struction and lighting seem to get equally good results from 

 their fowls. Two strong arguments for the colony house 

 are, that a floek of about the right size may be kept in a 

 yard of suitable area; also the house may be shifted from 

 time to time to new and clean soil conditions, thus provid- 

 ing good, permanent sanitation. Colony houses may be 

 hauled into grain fields after the harvest, where the fowls 

 secure uncommonly good forage of grain and insects. 



Figure 246. A handy shelter coop and run. Reproduced from "Poultry 



Houses." 



The shelter coop is usually built for a hen and a brood 

 of chickens. It varies much in construction. Common 

 boxes 2 or 3 feet square, with slat or wire front; empty barrels, 

 with a slat attachment at one end; and shelters of ter^t or A- 

 shape are frequently seen. These coops should be made so 

 as to enable the chicks to pass freely in and out, to give 

 the hens dry and comfortable shelter, and to protect the 

 chicks at night from rats and other vermin. 



The location and construction of the poultry house require 

 careful thought, if the most satisfactory results are to be 



