Poultry Houses 13 



"is about $6 each, and some of them have been in use over two years 

 with very little signs of being worse for wear." Some of my pullets 

 are being raised in small houses having a paper roof, but burlap tacked 

 on ends and back. This material allows air to pass through freely and 

 acts as roosting house for nights and shade in the day time. And I am 

 going to winter some in the same kind of houses, and some in canvas 

 houses. In the southern part of Callifornia we do not have rain enough 

 to call for expensive poultry houses, yet we do need a good roof at 

 all times. 



In localities where the rainfall is heavier, lumber gives better satis- 

 faction. Matched lumber costs a little more in the first place, but as it 

 requires no battens and is wind as well as water proof, it is really 

 cheaper in the long run. 



But whatever the material used it is the roof that is the most im- 

 portant part of the building, for with a leaky roof, no matter how 

 good the walls may be, the chickens are not very comfortable. 



Shingle roofs should have a one-third pitch, while paper roofs can 

 be made more flat; however, the more pitch a roof has the longer it 

 will last, for the rain does not stay on to rot the material. 



