POULTRY-HOU SE CONSTRUCTION. 



15 



ROOSTS. 



All interior fixtures of the house should be portable. The perches should be in 

 the warmer part of the house, where no draughts can strike the stock, yet allowing 

 them plenty of fresh air. They should run from east to west inside the back wall 

 of the house. 



Perches may be made from trees of 3 inches in diameter, or by using 2x4 

 joists. The edges should be skived down evenly, then placed narrow edge up, and 

 always built on the same level. 



The general working rule for roost-room is 6 to 8 inches per bird, and the 

 perches placed 12 to 15 inches apart, having the first perch 15 inches from the back 

 of the house. 



A poor open-front arrangement, showing too much wood and glass. 



DROPPINGS PLATFORMS. 



Drop-boards should not be used if the poultryman cannot give them the atten- 

 tion required. It is better that a 12-inch piece of rough lumber be nailed across the 

 back of the pen far enough out from the back wall to catch all the droppings. An 

 absorbent, such as loam, sand, or slaked lime, should be used in this method to keep 

 the house from smelling badly. 



In constructing the platforms the boards should be laid from the back towards 

 the front of the house, rather than from wall to wall, to allow of easy cleaning. 



Many prefer building the drop-boards with a pitch to the front, instead of on 

 the level plane, with a piece of 1 x 3 inch nailed edgewise along the front to keep 

 the droppings from falling in the litter. An opening is allowed every 4 feet 



