150 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



so well as eggs that have never been soiled. When 

 hens run at large on wet ground, the litter on the floor 

 of the house soon becomes dirty and wet, thus making 

 a very unsatisfactory place for feeding. The ground out 

 of doors is also unsatisfactory for feeding, as wet ground 

 soon becomes filthy and the filth sticks to the feed, 

 making it impossible for the hens to pick it up without 

 consuming more or less filth. Ground which is natu- 

 rally wet is cold in the spring. It is also slower to be- 

 come aerated, and holds filth on the surface much longer 

 than dry ground." 



Many of the Experiment Stations favor the portable 

 house, especially for growing stock. Virtually, the 

 portable colony house is the same as if one built a 

 poultry house on the old type of long farm sled as a 

 foundation and floor. Sometimes the " runners " are 

 made of two pieces each. A " three-by-four " might 

 have spiked to it on the under side, a three-by-three, 

 or a three-by-two-inch piece, the latter to be replaced 

 whenever it rots or grows too punky. This method 

 adds much length of life to the house. Such a house 

 needs to be well braced, and not too large, as the large 

 houses would be racked too much in moving. For the 

 farm, it appears to me that this house is to be preferred 

 to all others, for small flocks. It need not even be 

 floored, where the soil is dry and sandy, or where it is 

 in use only in .the dry summer seasons, for growing 

 stock. If for use in windy situations, or in winter, it 

 needs some method of closing the space between the 

 runners, at the rear. I think a drop board tightly fitted, 

 and furnished with hooks to fasten shut, or open, as de- 

 sired, might meet this need. 



