7$ FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING. 



Materials for Two 12 x 14ft. Sections. 



3 pieces 3 x 4 x 12 36 i-q. ft. 



4 pieces 2 x 6 x 14 56 sq. ft. 

 2 pieces 2x6x12 24 J-q. ft. 

 8pieces2x3x 12 48 sq. ft. 



19 pieces 2x3x14 133 sq. ft. 



297 sq ft., $5 94 



500 sq. ft. hemlock boards, 8 50 



72 sq. ft. matched spruce boards, 1 58 



300 sq. ft. furring, 5 40 



2 windows, 1 20 



3iM. shingles, 8 13 



Nails and screws, 1 50 



Hinges, hooks, etc., . 60 



Wire netting 25 



$33 10 



Changes That Have Been Made or flight be Made in This House. 



If I were going to build today a two pen house of the capacity of this one, I would change 

 the construction in only two points. 



The roof would be sheathed close as on the small house first described, instead of shingled on 

 furring. The reason for this is that while the skeleton roof is strong enough it does not give a 

 smooth, clean, easily whitewashed surface as when sheathed with wide boards laid close 

 together. The advantage of having a good "ceiling" I think much more than compensates for 

 the slight additional cost of the roof. 



The other point I would alter would be that in each end I would put a window, either a full 

 size window in the middle of the end, or a half window near the front, that point to be deter- 

 mined by the light as affected by surrounding conditions. When I moved the house I enlarged 

 the windows in front, but find that it would have been more satisfactory to put windows in the 

 ends, and intend to change them before next winter. 



When the house was moved the larger two pen part was set up separately, and the pigeon 

 house detached and made a one story house. I think that for either poultry or pigeons it is 

 better to have everything on the ground floor if possible, but in case one is crowded for ground 

 room it is sometimes advisable to use two story buildings. 



Another change made in this building after moving it was to put doors in the north side to 

 allow passage for both fowls and attendant to yards north of the building used in summer. 

 This change made it necessary to shorten the roosts about three feet, and board up beside the 

 door to a point a little forward of the outer roost. In winter when the fowls are in yards south 

 of the house the doors in the north side are nailed up. 



The Question of Cold Houses. 



It would be out of the question to enter here into such discussion of the relative merits of 

 "warm" and "cold," closed and open poultry houses, which consideration of'the plans I have 

 given suggests. Those who have files of the paper will find a great deal said both for and 

 against the idea of using such a "shed" as this or anything at all approaching it in structure. I 

 will only say here that while it is not yet demonstrated that this is the better way of housing 

 fowls, and will give better results than close, warm houses, results obtained in these houses and 

 the condition of the stock kept in them begin to make it necessary that one who argues against 

 them should argue from practical experience with them and also from sensible treatment of 

 stock in them. 



