FEEDING EQUIPMENT 



205 



It may be possible during certain seasons of the year to buy 

 at reduced prices large quantities of grain and hold it for later use. 

 Thus much can be saved. This practice is impossible without 

 large storage bins. 



The feature of having the house proof against rats and mice 

 is important; for, if these enemies gain access to the grains, a con- 

 stant and considerable loss will be going on which may be almost 

 unnoticed. On an extensive plant it may be feasible to construct 

 the entire feed room of concrete or hollow tile; but where, owing 

 to limited funds or other reasons, it is necessary to erect a frame 

 building, it will be found a very desirable practice to fill in concrete- 



FIG. 118. Poultry feed house centrally located, with long laying house on either side. 

 The upper floor is used for storage of hay and grain, and the lower floor for mixing and 

 weighing. 



between the inside sheathing and the outside weather boarding to 

 a height of about thirty inches from the ground. If this is done 

 during the construction of the house, it adds very little to the cost 

 and prevents rats and mice from gnawing through from the out- 

 side. In addition to this, a good, heavy concrete floor should be 

 laid on a crushed stone or cinder bottom. If the moisture insula- 

 tion of tar paper be used, as described in Chapter VII, it will 

 insure dryness, which is essential to keep the grains from molding, 

 besides adding to the rat-proof feature. 



Special Feed-room Equipment. The amount, character, and 

 size of the appliances required properly to equip the feed room for 

 work will be determined largely by the size of the plant and the 

 character of the work to be done. A poultry plant making a 



