16 



INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION. 



The interior of the house is of the very simplest. I have 

 learned from hard experience to have as little furniture in a 

 hen house as possible, and that many of the things advertised 

 as helps for poultrymen are really hindrances. The house, as I 

 have said, faces the south. The roosts, instead of being in the 

 rear, as is commonly the case, are in the west end, away from 

 all possibility of draughts. The roost platform is two feet and 

 a half above the floor, and is constructed of dry matched pine 

 boards, which I get from old dry goods boxes. The platform, 

 as soon as built, is covered with a coat of hot tar. There are 

 two roosts, or perches, parallel and on the same level. I forgot 

 to say that the roost platform is three feet wide, which enables 

 me to place my perches one foot apart and one foot from the 

 back wall and one foot from the edge of the platform. The 

 perches are of spruce, 2x3, with the upper end slightly rounded, 

 and set in sockets cut out of boards. They are removable. 

 The perches are also covered with hot tar, as are the sockets in 

 which they are set. Red mites let my houses severely alone. 



The materials -used in the house are as follows : Hemlock 

 boards, 500 feet; matched pine for doors, trimmings, etc., 60 

 feet; frame (board measure), 100 feet; windows, Neponset 

 black sheathing, 250 feet ; Neponset red rope, 250 feet ; Paroid, 

 100 feet ; hardware, etc. The cost of such a house, exclusive of 

 labor, in New Hampshire to-day would be not far from $20. 

 Two men, working together, can complete the house in two 

 days. Such a house always finds a ready sale, and if the owner 

 wishes to move out of town or go out of the hen business at 

 any time he can sell the house for about half what it cost him. 



In case a somewhat larger house is wanted, the dimensions 

 may be enlarged as follows : Length, 14 feet ; width, 8 feet ; 

 height in front, 7^ feet ; height in rear, 5^4 feet. This will pre- 

 serve the proportions and give nearly one-half more floor space. 



HOUSE MADE FROM PIANO BOXES. 



Possibly there are some who desire even a cheaper house 

 than the ones I have described. It may be they expect to re- 

 main but a short time where they are, or wish a house for 

 young stock, and do not care to invest even $20 in a building. 

 To such I would say that a good temporary house can be made 

 from two piano boxes at a cost of about $3. The simplest way 

 to make such a house is as follows : On a level place lay down 



