THE CONSTRUCTION OF POULTRY HOUSES 189 



THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNIT SYSTEM HOUSE 



Like in the construction of all poultry houses, the uniL system 

 house should be so constructed that there will be a uniformity 

 of temperature, general good health of the flock conducive to 

 good egg production, economy of construction, and a saving 

 in the work of care of the flocks that are to be kept in it. 



Poultry houses should always be provided with plenty of 

 head room, so that the poultryman can work in the building 

 without inconvenience. In the unit system house the front 

 should be 10 feet and the rear 7 feet high. The deeper and 

 wider the house, the higher the roof should be made to be in 

 proper proportion. On the other hand, a colony house 8 by 

 10 feet could have a rear wall only 4 feet high and the front 6 

 feet and be in good proportion, while a building 14 feet square 

 could have a rear wall 6 feet and a front wall 8 feet high and 

 that be in good proportion. 



The floor material may be of boards, dirt, gravel, or cinders 

 and concrete. 



Board floors should have a coat or two of asphalt, which 

 should be applied hot. The fall of the year is a good time to 

 give the buildings a new coat of paint as this preserves the 

 wood- and gives visitors a good impression. 



The board floors are used to a considerable extent in the 

 warmer parts of the country where there are no cold winters. 

 The floor is located 2 feet above the ground. This allows of a 

 free circulation of air and does not furnish a favorable place 

 for rats and other nocturnal vermin of that character. This 

 type is not so satisfactory for colder countries. Dirt is used 

 to a great extent. The top of the floor should be at least 

 1 foot above the surrounding ground, so as to ensure it remain- 

 ing dry in wet and rainy times. The dirt floors are more or 

 less harbors for rats, who find hiding-places under the sills, 

 and any other material of that nature that may be upon the 

 floor. It furnishes a temptation not to be resisted by the 

 hens in taking dust-baths, and the floor is not easily kept 

 level. Gravel can be hauled from most creeks or rivers, and 

 12 inches on the floor of the house makes good drainage and 

 ensures a dry floor. The same may be said of cinders, which 

 may be secured in many locahties for the hauling. The best 



