40 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



proper. Where a number of houses are placed together, it 

 is better to have the sheds in front and part of the main 

 building. Such sheds should be quite as large as the roost- 

 ing house, and be separated from the same by a partition 

 made of the same thickness of wood as the outer walls. The 

 front of the shed should bo of wood two or three feet up, 

 and of wire netting above that. 



Having laid the foundations, the next step will be to 

 prepare the framework, which should be of scantling, three 

 or four inches square, according to the size of the house and 

 the strain which will be put upon the frame. An extra up- 

 right should be placed every three or four feet ; but one 

 horizontal crosspiece, in a wall six to eight feet high, will be 

 quite sufficient. The framework of a door not less than 

 thirty inches wide, and of one or more windows, must be fitted 

 in, and. these should .face the south or east. The windows 

 are better when made to open, and simply hinged to swing 

 outwards. The boards when nailed on should be laid 

 horizontally, tightly clenched down, and nailed firmly to the 

 frame, so as to prevent any warping. French nails are 

 the best, as they do not destroy the wood, should it be 

 necessary to afterwards take the house to pieces. A small 

 trap, fifteen inches high by twelve inches wide, will be required 

 for the fowls ; and this should have a sliding door, so that 

 they may be kept in if necessary. The matter requiring 

 greatest care in the erection of a wooden house is, to see that 

 it is perfectly air-tight, except as afterwards provided, and 

 all fissures or chinks stopped up. This is especially necessary 

 with the door and window fittings, as draughts very often find 

 their way in just at these places. 



The roof may be of shingles, slates, corrugated iron, or 

 wood, the two first named being the most suitable for per- 

 manent buildings. A tin roof really has many advantages, 

 as it is reasonable in price, easily fixed, and perfectly water- 



