OPEN FRONT HOUSES 15 



the rafters on, unroll wire netting of one or two-inch mesh. Of course 

 the smaller mesh is the stronger and will hold up better if the building 

 is large. Space the rafters to the width of the wire netting if possible, 

 so as to keep the wire straight and smooth. Fasten down a portion at 

 a time, while a helper keeps the wire stretched. If rafters are too far 

 apart it will be well to use a batten or some light stay between. Now 

 fasten down with double pointed carpet tacks well driven home. If 

 the roof has a ridge pole it is better to commence tacking the wire on 

 the lower edge and unroll across ridge pole, making fast at ridge, then 

 down to outer edge of the other side. When the roof is wired and 

 well fastened down (use plenty of tacks) the roofing paper should be 

 laid the same way as the wire and fastened down with the usual cement 

 and nails. If mites or ticks should ever venture in this roof they can be 

 reached with a spray pump and killed with two sprayings at most; 

 where in case of a shingle, board or shake roof you must burn the 

 roof to rid it entirely of the vermin. 



In a cold climate, an air space can be made by duplicating this 

 roof on the inside, or by putting in a ceiling. The latter would be the 

 easier if not cheaper and would answer all purposes. In case of a flat 

 or shanty roof, the wire may be spread as on the ridge roof and the 

 paper makes a better appearance if run crosswise instead of lengthwise. 



An Open Front House for Fifty Hens. This house is 6x10; the 

 sills are of 2x4, the front studs are five feet, 2x3, and are three in 

 number; the back is four feet high and studs are 2x3, also end studs 

 are same material. The front is made in two separate panels, meeting 

 at the center studding and are held in place by buttons. This makes it 

 very convenient for cleaning, spraying or any other use you may have 

 for going in and out handy, as one or both panels can be taken out in 

 a minute. The floor can be either of earth or board, as desired. Drop- 

 ping boards are eighteen inches from the floor and a row of nests fits 

 riglht up to the dropping boards. The nests are open at the back, being 

 reached from the outsde by a hole cut in one end; the front of the 

 nests is a board hinged at the bottom and held in place by two hooks 

 or buttons. The eggs are gathered from the front by the operator, 

 who is under cover if raining. As there is ample space for fifty Leg- 

 horn or any of the small breeds, the floor may have litter on it and the 

 hens be fed a grain breakfast right in the building, though it is not 

 large enough to be called a scratching house as well as a laying and 

 roosting house for all the time. Still it will answer for that if 

 hens are given liberty after breakfast. The reason it is just six 

 feet is that that width is easier to move without straining. A twelve or 

 fourteen-inch board the whole length of the front serves as an awning 

 for rainy or very sunshiny weather. This can be movable so as to lay 

 back on top of building when not wanted, or during cleaning-out 

 operations. 



