PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



The next most popular and serviceable type of poultry 

 house is the semi-monitor. This is illustrated on page 125. 

 This is a more expensive type to build as it has a broken roof. 

 The upper windows allow the sunshine to reach the back 

 portion of the building. The front portion can be used for a 

 scratch room and, if an open front is desired, ventilation can be 

 secured in that way. Such a building should be made deep, 

 16 ft. to 20 ft. The deeper the building, the more favorable to 

 the flock and the better the results. 



A third type is the semi-gable. This is in common use and 

 has advantages over the two mentioned above. 



How to Build the Poultry House 



The following simple directions may assist in building a 

 semi-monitor house 20 feet square. The trenches should be 

 dug at least 18 inches deep as a protection against frost 

 and vermin. The dirt is thrown to the outside to be afterwards 

 graded against the foundation. The forms for the foundation 

 should be made of twelve inch or two six inch boards. After 

 the forms are placed the trench is filled with the concrete made 

 of four parts gravel and one part cement. 



As the cement is being placed strong bolts with heavy 

 washers are set so that the top of each bolt will extend about 

 an inch above the top of the foundation plate. These are to 

 anchor the building. The concrete is brought flush with the 

 tops of forms and made level and smooth. As the foundation 

 is made six inches wide a 2" x 6" timber can be used for plates. 

 These are now bolted to the foundation. The floor space is 

 now filled with cinders, broken stone or coarse gravel to a 

 depth of six inches. As these substances are porous and con- 

 tain air spaces they prevent moisture coming up from below, 

 thus insuring a dry floor at all times. We are now ready for 

 the concrete. A layer two inches thick of the same quality as 

 used in the foundation is placed upon the broken stone and 

 made level to receive the top dressing. After the concrete has 

 begun to set the top coat is applied consisting of two parts of 

 coarse, gritty sand, and one part cement. This should be 

 made one inch thick and should be troweled level. After the 

 top coat has begun to set a skim coat of pure cement and water 

 is applied. This is to be very thin and should be troweled 

 until a smooth hard surface is formed. 



[127] 



