ESSENTIALS OF A POULTRY HOUSE 167 



ground where dirt floors are used, will help to keep rats out. 

 The boards used in buildiag a poultry house should be such 

 as will not harbor mites or other parasites. Dressed lumber 

 is best. All fixtures should be portable, and as simple as 

 possible in type, so as to admit of rapid and thorough cleans- 

 ing whenever it is desirable to clean the house. 



Simplicity. — The poultry house should be built of durable 

 materials, for it does not pay to spend one's money on a 

 cheap house which is only temporary. If built on a good 

 foundation, and of good, first-class material, the house 

 is a permanent building, to be cared for as such. The simpler 

 its design, the more attractive it will be; simplicity of 

 the exterior and freedom from fancy comers and costly 

 trimmings enable one to keep it in a good state of preserva- 

 tion at little cost. When completed the poultry house should 

 immediately be given two good coats of oil paint, any knots 

 in the boards being shellaced beforehand. This treatment 

 will keep the boards from shrinking and coming apart, thus 

 forming cracks, and will the better preserve the house. 



Economy but not Cheapness. — In designing and building 

 his house, economy should be first and foremost in the poultry 

 keeper's mind, but not cheapness at the sacrifice of efficiency; 

 and efficiency in every respect is probably best secured by 

 a house of shed-roof shape, from four and one-half to 

 six feet high in the back, and from seven to eight in front. 

 The height will depend upon the depth, but it must be 

 high enough to permit the attendant to care for the birds 

 without inconvenience. The house should approach a 

 square in shape, this being more economical, as less building 

 material is required. Twelve by twelve, fourteen by fourteen, 

 or sixteen by sixteen are common dimensions for the floor 

 areas of small poultry houses. 



An Ideal Plan. — The following summary demonstrates the 

 type of house which at present is accepted as the best. The 

 floor space should be ten to twenty feet square. The roof 



