POULTRY RAISING-CHICKENS 279 



to 20 feet of floor space. In houses 20 feet in width allow one square foot of 

 muslin to every 10 square feet of floor space. 



Keep House Ventilated but Prevent Drafts.-Fresh air is good for hens 

 but drafts are injurious. Remember that chickens cannot endure sudden 

 changes and easily catch colds. An open front poultry house, with the north 

 east and west fides closed prevent drafts and furnish plentv of good fresh 

 air. 



Poultry Yards. 



Keep House Clean. To have the house sanitary and cheerful, it must be 

 kept clean. Have boards to catch the manure at night, keep clean litter on 

 the floor and clean the chicken coop thoroughly at least once a month. Clean 

 the dropping board at least once a week in summer.* If a dirt floor is used, 

 remove the litter often enough to keep it dry and clean. If one gets the habit 

 of cleanliness he. need have no fear from poultry diseases. 



An earth floor is best. Earth Itself is a disinfectant. The flodr should be raised above the 

 outside surface by putting in other dirt and packing it down well. Bricks may be used around 

 the lower outside to make a wall to retain the extra dirt in real cold, climates. A half-inch mesh 

 of steel wire under the dirt makes best guard against rats. Concrete floors are not desirable ai 

 they are nearly always damp. 



