Construction of Roofs 113 



A form of roof known as the "Combination" 

 has become quite popular and under some circum- 

 stances has many advantages. 



Whatever form of roof be used, it should be so 

 constructed that it will effectually exclude all drafts 

 of air. Shingled roofs, as ordinarily constructed, 

 do not sufficiently exclude drafts. In order to make 

 such roofs satisfactory it is necessary to cover the 

 roof boards with building-paper before the shingles 

 are laid, or to provide an inner ceiling for the poul- 

 try house. Either of these will exclude the drafts, 

 but both are more or less objectionable. Each 

 one must choose what seems to him to be the lesser 

 of the two evils. The building-paper underneath 

 the shingles prevents the shingles from drying as 

 readily as they otherwise would, and, consequently, 

 materially shortens the life of the roof. Experience 

 has taught that the shingled roofs that dry quickest 

 last longest. The ceiling on the inside of the ordinary 

 shingled roofs is objectionable on account of the 

 additional expense. With the steady advance in 

 the price of shingles, other roofing materials are 

 gaining in popular favor. Felt and paper that are 

 protected by various kinds of paints and other pro- 

 tective material are largely used. These roofing 

 materials seem to be particularly well adapted to 

 the small, low and easily accessible roofs of poultry 

 houses. 



Floors. Some successful poultry-keepers pre- 



