REMODELLING OLD POULTRY HOUSES 173 



be looked over carefully to see that they are tight, as cracks 

 or holes may cause undesirable drafts. Such holes may be 

 covered by battens on the inside. The roof should be in- 

 spected to see that it is in good repair, and strong enough to 

 hold any weight to which it may be subjected; for example, 

 heavy snow. If it has been papered, and the paper is badly 

 worn, a new one must be put on. If a shingle roof, any miss- 

 ing shingles should be replaced with new ones. If the 

 shingles are in poor condition, it is better to entirely reshingle, 

 since the roof must be absolutely water-tight. 



Building Dropping Boards, Perches, and Nests. — All of 

 these fixtures should be built in the back part of the house, 

 which is the warmest and best protected. Put the dropping 

 boards close to the back wall, about two or three feet above 

 the ground. Their height will depend upon the breed kept, 

 and their width upon the number of perches. Fourteen 

 inches should be allowed between the perches, and eight or 

 ten inches of perch to each bird. The top of the dropping 

 boards should be as smooth as possible, so that they may be 

 easily cleaned, and if they can also be easily removed it is 

 an advantage. The perches should be elevated above the 

 dropping boards about six inches, in order that a hoe can 

 be manipulated under them to clean the boards. The perches 

 should be movable and of durable construction. Round 

 poles, two or three inches in diameter, make good perches. 

 Nests can be built under the dropping boards or fastened 

 to one of the side walls; either place is good. Provision 

 should be made for the birds to enter them under the perches 

 or from behind, and there should be a door or opening in 

 the front for the removal of eggs. The nests should be 

 planned and built about twelve to fourteen inches square, 

 one for every four or five birds. They should be dark and, 

 if possible, movable. 



Finishing Touches. — After the house has been remodelled 

 and the fixtures completed, it should be made habitable 

 by giving it a thorough spraying with the disinfecting 



