THE POULTRY PLANT 



The front part of the house is used for a scraching pen, a 

 12-inoh board set on edge dividuxg it from the back part, the 

 latter being used for roosts and nests. I use a sloping drop- 

 pings board hinged to back of house 2 ft. 6 in. above the floor, 

 the front edge overlapping a trough to catch the droppings. 

 Every morning it is scraped with a hoe and droppings carried 

 away, then by means of rope and pulley is raised out of way 

 of nests. These are six in number and trap, and are placed 

 under the droppings board. The roosts, two in number, rest 

 upon two supports which are hinged to wall at back and rest 

 upon legs at front. They are one foot above the board and the 

 legs slide upon it when all is raised and lowered together. When 

 board is being cleaned, roosts are raised and held by a strip. 



It is all much more simple than it sounds. Only about 

 three minutes each morning and again each evening is required 

 to put all in order; it is easily cleaned and kept clean; the 

 birds always have fresh, wholesome air to breathe; and it 



is a pleasure to keep fine birds under such conditions. 



My birds are Barred Rocks and White Wyandottes and I 

 beUeve that if the youngsters are raised in open front coops 

 and gradually hardened, all but the most tender breeds will do 

 better in such houses most anywhere in the States. If the 

 houses are made as tight as mine are, there can be no drafts and 

 I have not seen a sign of dampness although there is such a 

 tendency toward it whore I live, that it is almost impossible to 

 keep free from it in my dwelling. 



Believing 'that this style of house not only improves the 

 qUaUty of a flock, but adds materially to the health and com- 

 fort of the birds, I hope many readers will give it a trial. To 

 those who do, I would say, make the roof, sides and floor tight; 

 door and window fitting so that a draft through them is im- 

 possible; insure a circulation of air imder the house; and in 

 summer time remove door and window, substituting poul- 

 try wire. 



