44 



POULTRY HOUSES AND FIXTURES 



The floor is made of dirt, which is an 

 economical and durable type. Dirt floors 

 are very efficient if properly constructed. 

 In constructing a dirt floor there should be 

 a wall six to eight inches high. A fill of 

 four inches of coarse material, such as cin- 

 ders, should be made to prevent damp 

 floors. On top of the tamped cinders 

 should be placed two or three inches of 

 damp clay, which should be packed well 

 and then permitted to dry so that it will 

 harden. On top of the clay should be 

 placed half an inch of loose dirt. The clay 

 prevents the dirt and straw from mixing 

 with the cinders to such an extent as to 

 cause the moisture to rise. A covering of 

 a foot or more of straw will keep the floor 

 dry at all times. 



The greatest objections to dirt floors 

 are: (1) the possible invasion of rats; (2) 

 the fact that the straw will become dirty quicker than 

 with a concrete floor; and (3) dustiness, which in many 



PIG. 78 FRONT ELEVATION OF MISSOURI POULTRY HOUSE 

 Reproduced from Bui. 80, University of Missouri. 



inches apart. This forms a loft which is filled with straw. 

 The straw acts as a sort of sponge by absorbing both 

 dampness and heat and helps to keep the house drier in 

 the winter and cooler in the summer. 



In most sections it will probably cost about $120.00 to 

 build this house, aside from the painting. It will ac- 

 commodate from 120 to 175 hens, depending in part on 

 the breed, making the cost about $1.00 per hen or a little 

 less. Plans for constructing this house are shown in 

 Figs. 75, 76 and 78, and the complete house in Fig. 74. 



FIG. 77 END ELEVATION OF COLD CLIMATE HOUSE 



cases has caused throat trouble. However, because of the 

 low cost" of construction, the dirt floor can be safely rec- 

 ommended and it will prove very 

 efficient. 



The roosts should be at the back 

 or north side and all on the same 

 level. They should be four feet 

 above the floor, 14 inches from the 

 wall, and 12 inches apart, and made 

 of 2x4's with rounded corners. Poles 

 two inches in diameter, if firmly 

 placed, will serve the purpose near- 

 ly as well. Eight inches beneath the 

 roosts is placed the droppings plat- 

 form, which keeps the floor clean 

 and increases the floor space avail- 

 able for other purposes. Underneath 

 the droppings platform are placed 

 the nests. There should be eight 

 inches of roosting place for each 

 bird and one nest for every six or 

 seven hens. 



Joists or collar beams are placed 

 in the house just high enough to af- 

 ford head room. In order to pre- 

 vent the birds from roosting on 

 these, they are covered with inch 

 boards, 4 inches wide, placed two 



BILL, OP MATERIALS 



Use Pieces Size 



Rafters 22 2x4-12 



Plates and sills 8 2x4-20 



Studding and frames 1 2x4-10 



Roosts 5 2x4-20 



Finishing 6 1x4-10 



Finishing 1 1x4-16 



Finishing 4 1x4-10 



Finishing 8 Ix4-12 



Floor for loft 52 1x4-14 



Car siding for walls 1x6-10 



Shiplap for roof and drop, plat 1x8-12 



Shingles 5% M. 



Sashes 7 6-light, 8xlO-inch glass. 



Wire netting for windows and front 3x32. 



Hinges 1 pair. 



Foundation 3 cu. ft. of concrete. 



Bd. Feet 



176 



107 



7 



74 



20 



6 



14 



32 



260 



600 



720 



* From Missouri Experiment Station Circular 80. 



1 



FIG . 79 CROSS SECTION OF COLD CLIMATE HOUSE 



