18 



the upper part of the building draft-proof, 

 but nothing can be said for it from the 

 standpoint of appearance. 



The method of construction shown in 

 Fig. 24, in which the rafter is cut off 

 square with the plate the only eave pro- 

 vided being a four or five-inch projection 

 of the roofing boards is simple, makes a 

 tight joint all around and looks better than 

 the method shown in Fig. 22. Where a 

 wider eave is desired, the plan shown in 

 Fig. 21 is satisfactory and can be secured 

 with the minimum of labor in sawing and 

 fitting the rafters. With this method it is 

 necessary to notch the siding boards to 

 secure a tight joint at the rafters. In some 

 instances, this precaution is omitted and 

 the space between the top plate and the 

 roof boards is left open for ventilation, but this practice 

 is not to be recommended, as it usually means a cold, 

 drafty house in winter. 



A convenient way of providing an eave for a water- 

 shed without extending the rafters is by laying a double 



FIG . 20 COLONY HOUSE WITH SHINGLED WALLS 



layer of shingles which project a few inches beyond the 

 side of the building. If the sides of the building are cov- 

 ered with prepared roofing, the upper edge should be 

 lapped over onto the roof sheathing before the shingles 

 are laid, thus making a thoroughly draft-proof joint. 



No provision has been made for eave troughs or 

 spouting either in the plans or bills of materials pre- 

 sented in this book. It is highly desirable to provide 

 such, however, especially along the fronts of permanent 

 laying and brooder houses. When this is done the fowls 

 and chicks will have a dry strip outdoors in rainy 

 weather, of which they will make full use. When this 

 provision is neglected, they invariably get badly soaked 

 by the drip. If earth is graded up along the front for 

 any reason, as in the case of a house located on sloping 



PIG. 23 DIFFERENT TYPES OF POULTRY HOUSE ROOFS 



A, shed roof; B, combination roof; C, gable; D, monitor; E, semi- 



monitor; F, A-shaped. Reproduced from Farmers' Bulletin 574, 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



ground (see Fig. 5), the eave drip will soon wash the 

 filling away, making access to yard doors more difficult 

 from the outside, and may weaken the foundation or 

 floor. 



Doors and Windows 



All poultry-house doors should be of ample size for 

 ease in carrying in food, litter, etc., and in cleaning out. 

 If the house consists of more than two pens, the door 

 should be wide enough to admit a wheelbarrow. Poultry- 

 house doors, as a rule, may be of simple construction, 

 consisting of tongue-and-groove boards nailed perpen- 

 dicularly, with a batten at top and bottom and a cross 

 brace. If hung to swing out, .such doors may be made 

 storm-proof with little trouble. See Fig. 26. 



There are various types of yard doors in use, one of 

 which is shown in Fig. 25. This door slides up and 

 down, and when properly constructed, will be found very 

 satisfactory. Some will prefer to have these doors hinged 

 to open on the side, and where this is done it will be 

 more convenient, as a rule, to have them open out rather 

 than in. 



Where passageways are provided, it is desirable to be 

 able to operate the yard doors from the passageway by 

 the use of cords and pulleys, in which case the door shown 

 in Fig. 29 will be found satisfactory. This door is hinged 

 at the top and slopes back, so that when released it will 

 drop into place by its own weight. It seldom is possible 

 to arrange tight-fitting sliding doors that will not stick 

 in wet weather. This sloping door, however, may be 

 made fairly tight and can be depended upon to work at 

 all times. While it can be pushed open from the outside, 

 it is not at all likely that any animal will do so, as it 

 bears too close a resemblance to a trap. 



North of the Ohio River, windows are desirable in all 

 types of poultry-house construction and should be prop- 

 erly located and of sufficient size to furnish ample light 

 and ventilation. A simple and satisfactory method of 

 framing the windows is shown in Fig. 28. 



The bottom of the sill of this window is sixteen inches 

 from the floor line, which is a satisfactory height, and in 



FIG. 21 RAFTER EXTENDED 

 TO FORM EAVE 



EITHfiR 

 /*f/THO On RUGH Bft 



SIDIHO 

 /VAY SB USED WWEN COVERED 



FIG. 22 A ROOF WITHOUT EAVES 



FIG. 24 RAFTER CUT FLUSH; 



EAVE FORMED BY ROOF 



BOARD 



