POULTRY HOUSES 3 



to make comfortable a space 2 ft. long, 2 ft. wide, and 



7 ft. high. The height could be reduced, but a height 

 of 7 ft. is necessary for the convenience of the attendant. 



In constructing houses for breeds of medium or small 

 size, such as Leghorns, Minorcas, or Bantams, it is 

 well to allow 4 sq. ft. of floor space for each fowl. For 

 example, fifteen fowls of this kind should have 60 sq. 

 ft. of floor space, and twenty-five fowls, 100 sq. ft. 

 On the other hand, a floor space of 5 sq. ft. should 

 always be allowed for a Plymouth Rock or a Wyandotte, 

 and one of 6 sq. ft. for a Cochin or a Brahma. Thus, 

 while a 10' x 12' building, which provides 120 sq. ft. of 

 floor space, is sufficiently large for thirty Leghorns, it 

 will house only twenty-four Plymouth Rocks or Wyan- 

 dottes, or only twenty Cochins or Brahmas. 



So far as economy of construction is concerned, it is 

 generally advisable to make a house as nearly square 

 as possible. In poultry houses, however, the advantage 

 of the square house is outweighed by other considera- 

 tions, such as good, natural lighting and ventilation, 

 which can be obtained in large houses only by making 

 them relatively long and narrow. They should not be 

 made too narrow, however. Under ordinary conditions, 

 the width should not be less than 12 ft., as floor space 

 in narrow buildings is costly. For example, a building 



8 ft. x 100 ft. would cost at least three-fourths as much 

 as one 16 ft. x 100 ft., and would furnish only one-half 

 the floor space. If large houses are required, they should 

 be made from 16 to 20 ft. in width and long enough to 

 shelter the desired number of fowls. 



Lumber for Poultry Houses. For light construction, 

 2"x2" uprights should be used with a 2"x4" sill. This 

 kind of construction will answer for small or individual 

 buildings or for any style of poultry building that is not 

 to be permanent, provided it is strong enough to bear 

 the weight of the roof when there is a heavy fall of 

 snow on it. A much more substantial framing, how- 

 ever, can be made of 2" x 4" studs and a 4" x 6'' sill. 

 Either barn boards, beveled siding, or jointed flooring 



