FEEDING EQUIPMENT 205 
It may be possible during certain seasons of the year to buy 
at reduced prices large quantities of grain and hold it for later use. 
Thus much can be saved. This practice is impossible without 
large storage bins. 
The feature of having the house proof against rats and mice 
is important; for, if these enemies gain access to the grains, a con- 
stant and considerable loss will be going on which may be almost 
unnoticed. On an extensive plant it may be feasible to construct 
the entire feed room of concrete or hollow tile; but where, owing 
to limited funds or other reasons, it is necessary to erect a frame 
building, it will be found a very desirable practice to fill in concrete 
Seal 
Fria, 118.—Poultry feed house centrally located, with long laying house on either side. 
The upper floor is used for storage of hay and grain, and the lower floor for mixing and 
weighing. 
between the inside sheathing and the outside weather boarding to 
a height of about thirty inches from the ground. If this is done 
during the construction of the house, it adds very little to the cost 
and prevents rats and mice from gnawing through from the out- 
side. In addition to this, a good, heavy concrete floor should be 
laid on a crushed stone or cinder bottom. If the moisture insula- 
tion of tar paper be used, as described in Chapter VII, it will 
insure dryness, which is essential to keep the grains from molding, 
besides adding to the rat-proof feature. 
Special Feed-room Equipment.—The amount, character, and 
size of the appliances required properly to equip the feed room for 
work will be determined largely by the size of the plant and the 
character of the work to be done. A poultry plant making a 
