windows afforded ample protection and the fowls kept on laying without 

 the least interruption or falling oiT. On the coldest nights, however, an 

 extra curtain was hung in front of the roosts. It was a most severe lest 

 of the value of cloth as against glass, in a very cold, climate, and the fact 

 that the fowls were comfortable, had no frost bitten combs, and kept actively 

 laying, proves Ijic great value of tlie idea. 



It may be well to mention right here that where roost curtains are 

 used, the too careful poultryman is apt to use them when they do more harm 

 than good. Never use the roost curtains unless the weather is colder than 

 twenty degrees above zero. 



The only warmth needed in a poultry house is that given forth by the 

 fowls' bodies ; therefore the higher you build your house the colder it will 

 be. A low house is much easier warmed than a high one. If you will 

 make it as low as you can and still give you room so that you will not 

 bump your head, you will have plenty of air space for as many fowls as 

 you have floor space for, on the rule of five to six square feet of floor per 

 fowl. You will find the continuous house warmer than the colony house, 

 as cold walls radiate heat rapidly. 



ROOF — The cheapest form of house to build is the square one, and the 

 nearer it is square the warrher it will be, but there is the valuable factor of 

 sun radiation to be taken into consideration, and we would advise that the 

 depth of the house be not more than fourteen feet and twelve would be 

 better. The sanitary rays of the sun are of much more value than the slight 

 difference in temperature and cost. 



The cost of a poultry house is influenced by the shape of its roof. We 

 would advise the single span, shed roof as the easiest to build and the most 

 advantageous. It gives the highest point at the front, or south, and the 

 best shelter at the back. It sheds all water at the back and keeps the front 

 dry and cheery. It also allows the arrangement of the windows to be such 

 as to throw the sunlight back into the house. If it slopes towards the 

 north, a tarred paper, or prepared roofiing, will last much longer as it is 

 not exposed to the vertical rays of the sun, and this also makes the house 

 much cooler in summer. 



FAULTY CONSTRUCTION— In illustration No. S you will notice 

 some examples of faulty constru ction. No. 1 has the windows too low and 

 ^^ 1 ^^ ~\ set horizontally; it will af- 



ford but little sun radiation. 

 The front of No. 2 is not 

 perpendicular and will always 

 be a source of annoyance. In 

 No. 3 the ridge roof will 

 cause a drip to the front, 

 while the glass surface is too 

 great for the size of the 

 house ; it will be too warm in 

 summer and too cold in win- 

 ter. No. 4 will have no sun 

 radiation, the slope of the 

 roof to the south will make 



N.,4 



Illustration No. 5 — Don't build like this. 



it unbearably warm in summer, and the high north wall will make it cold 

 in winter. There is not a grain of good judgment in_ any one of these 

 houses and we show them that you may avoid any building not justified by 

 common sense and ordinary philosophy. 



FLOOR SPACE — From S to 6 square feet of floor space, and from 30 

 to 36 cubic feet of air space, for each fowl, is about the right basis of 



