108 



sometimes on one, and then on the other side of the uprights. The house 

 should be placed in the center of this circle. A few stakes, a little more 

 brush, and an armful of straw for thatch or roof, will make this answer ; the 

 brush must be woven round the poles in the same manner for the house, 

 that it was for the yard. A straw thatch for roof, it is said, will last 

 twenty years, if properly made. It should be formed of good, clean, long 

 straw, and as little broken as possible. Wheat or rye straw is preferable ; 

 put it on ten or twelve inches thick ; some roofs are made eighteen inches 

 thick. Tie it close and securely with strips of white oak or hickory bark 

 well twisted ; but this every one knows how to perform. The roof should 

 have a good pitch, or, in other words, be very steep, so that rain or snow 

 may be quickly thrown off. Doors for this house may be made of boards, 

 and hinges from the sole of an old shoe. The inside of the house may be 

 arranged as desired as regards laying boxes, roosts, etc. The inside of 

 the house might be thatched with straw, as well as with brushwood, which 

 will make it warmer in winter. With the directions here given, and the 

 illustration before him, almost any handy lad upon the farm can build a com- 

 fortable hennery and yard. 



BROWNE'S POULTRY HOUSE. 



From the American Poultry Yard, by D. J. BROWNE, we take the 

 following description of a very pretty and convenient poultry-house, of 



which we give a perspective view : " A fowl- 

 house," says Mr. BROWNE, " should be dry, well- 

 roofed, and fronting the east or south ; and if prac- 

 ticable, in a cold climate, it should be provided 

 with a stove, or some other means for heating, 

 warmth being very conducive to health and laying, 

 though extreme heat has the contrary effect. The 

 dormitory, or roost, should be well ventilated by 

 means of two latticed windows, at opposite ends of 

 the building ; and it would be desirable to have 

 one or more apertures through the roof for the 

 escape of foul air. The sitting apartment, also, 

 should be ventilated by means of a large window, 

 TRANSVERSE OR CROSS SECTION. i n ^Q S [^ Q o f ^ Q house, and holes through the 

 ceiling or roof. If kept moderately dark, it will contribute to the quietude 

 of the hens, and thus favor the process of incubation. The sitting room 

 should be provided with boxes or troughs, well supplied with fresh water 

 and proper food for the hens during the hatching period, from which they 

 can partake at all times at will. The laying-room, in winter, should have 

 similar boxes or troughs containing old mortar, broken oyster-shells, soot, 

 brick-dust, gravel and ashes, as well as a liberal supply of proper food and 

 drink. The perches, or roosting poles, should be so arranged that one row 



