136 PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



Such a floor is easily kept clean, practically makes the 

 house rat-proof, and, if properly constructed, can be kept 

 dry. In laying the foundation of a concrete floor, broken 

 stone or gravel should be flrst laid as a foundation and from 

 2J^ to 3 inches of concrete placed on top. Before finishing 

 the top surface of the floor, a layer of tar paper such as is 

 used for building that is lapped and cemented with tar at 

 the seams should be placed on top of the rough concrete to 

 help keep the floor dry and warm. The top layer of cement 

 is then put on top of the paper. When concrete is not used 

 for the foundation, the building may be erected on brick 

 piers or posts. A board floor is mostly used with such a 

 foundation and in cold climates should be laid double, with 

 building paper between the boards. An earth floor gives good 

 results, if it can be kept dry. It should be 3 to 6 inches 

 higher than the level of the ground outside. An objection 

 to such a floor is the difficulty in keeping it clean. As a 

 sanitary measure remove from 3 to 4 inches of the top soil 

 each year and replace it with fresh clean soil. 



In the colony house the floor and foundation are usually 

 constructed of lumber, the foundation timbers being con- 

 structed in the form of skids so that the house can be easily 

 moved from place to place. 



The frataework of the building. The framework of the 

 house should be constructed of lumber of sufficient size and 

 dimensions to make it secure, depending upon the size and 

 construction of the building. 



With small continuous houses or colony houses most of 

 the frame can be constructed of 2 x 4 inch lumber. In 

 larger buildings, especially of the continuous house type, 

 the uprights can be made of 2 x 4 inch scantlings and the 

 rafters and floor joists of 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 inch lumber when 

 the depth of the house and the span of the roof are over 

 16 feet deep. The sills can be made of 2 x 4 inch timber 



