No. 4.] POULTRY KEEPING ON THE FARM. 341 



beneath the house. Dryness within the house is further 

 secured by raising the floor six inches to a foot above the 

 level of the ground surrounding the house. 



The Kind of House. 

 There are many forms of hen houses, some of them desir- 

 able, others despicable. Each poultry keeper ought to make 

 a study of this matter, as related to the particuhir conditions 

 of his location and the scope of his plans. Too many hen 

 houses are adapted only for winter conditions. The effect 

 of each season and of all kinds of weather must be kept in 

 mind, if the house is intended to provide a comfortable home 

 for the fowls throughout the year. Winter and sunmier 

 quarters and a scratching-shed may be combined in one 

 house or in one room, if so desired. Perhaps I can best ex- 

 plain several essential points in home architecture for poultry 

 by describing, as well as I can in words, a house suited, 

 under favorable conditions, for a flock of thirty farm fowls. 

 It is not forbidden to build of stone or brick or concrete ; 

 but I should construct the house of wood, and build on run- 

 ners, so that it could be readily moved if it ever became de- 

 sirable to change to a new location or to fresh ground. I 

 think that in a house fairly well ventilated at least 30 cubic 

 feet of air space should be allowed per fowl. For our thirty 

 fowls we must then provide 900 cubic feet of interior space. 

 This we can do if we make the foundation of the house in 

 the form of an oblong, 15 by 10 feet, or of a square, 12| by 

 12| feet, and give the roof an average height of 6 feet. The 

 floor may be of boards, concrete, or of dry dirt to be renewed 

 at intervals. Usually the house faces to the south or south- 

 east. The house is highest at the front, and the roof slant- 

 ing to the rear should have a sufficient pitch to readily shed 

 rain and snow water. I must allow that this form is not 

 very artistic or beautiful. It may, however, be improved in 

 appearance by adding a narrow jet in front, pitching toward 

 the south, and placing a little cupola containing a ventilator 

 at the middle of the peak thus formed. The front should be 

 constructed in the form of two large doors, which are to be 

 opened out in bright, warm weather, allowing the sunshine 

 to reach, during some part of the day, each and every part 



