40 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



easily made by digging a trench to a point below 

 the frost line, lining it with boards and filling in with 

 layers of small stones and cement. Boards fastened 

 to stakes will hold the cement above ground. Such 

 a wall keeps out the rats. 



Cedar or hemlock posts set into the ground deeply 

 make good supports for the small poultry house. 

 In England, a favorite plan is to have the house on 

 runners, so that it may be moved from place to place 

 about the grounds, and sometimes wheels are used. 

 The use of small houses which can be moved helps 

 to make the work light, if there is plenty of room, for 

 they can be moved instead of being cleaned out. 



It will be seen from all this, that the question of 

 poultry house construction is not as simple as the 

 novice might be led to believe. However, the fact 

 remains that for the beginner there is nothing bet- 

 ter than a simply made, shed-roof house with a com- 

 bination of muslin and glass. Even this assertion 

 may be disputed, too, so that it is not made dog- 

 matically. 



The furnishings of the poultry house should be 

 as simple as the house itself. Lice the poultry- 

 man always has with him. By that is meant that 

 there will always be a considerable number in the 



