HOUSING OF POULTRY 



185 



domestication asserts itself more clearly and strongly in the 

 breeding qualities of the fowls than in their laying qual- 

 ities. 



The Floor. Floors are not always necessary nor desir- 

 able in poultry houses. "Where the ground is inclined to 

 be damp, a floor will be an advantage, but where it is well 

 drained and porous there need be no floor. Fowls prefer to 

 scratch on the ground rather than on the floor. A wooden 

 floor gives protection for rats underneath, and for this rea- 

 son a cement floor is preferable. Where an earth floor is 

 used it should be higher than the ground outside the house 

 to prevent water running in. It is a good plan to fill the 

 floor with 6 or 8 inches of clean, coarse sand and once a year 

 or oftener take off part of this and replace it with clean 

 sand. This will keep the floor comparatively clean and 

 sanitary. 



The Roof. There are three types of roofs generally 

 used, namely, the shed roof, the gable roof, and the combin- 

 ation roof. 



Shed Roof. Practically the same amount of material 

 will be required for each style of roof, if the ground plan 

 and the air space con- 

 tent of the house are 

 the same. There 

 will be a little less 

 labor in constructing 

 the shed roof than the 

 others. The type of 

 roof used will depend 

 mainly on the width of 

 the house and the pitch 

 of the roof. If shingles 



-, PIANO BOXES UTILIZED* FOR HEN 



are used, a comparative- HOUSES 



ly Steep roof mUSt be Two such boxes used in making this house. 



