Poultry Raising. 
13 
or south, the west and north walls and roof being absolutely tight. 
We know of quite a number of poultry houses in Colorado facing east 
or west, but know of no good reason for it, and many against it. You 
will find no stronger ally in fighting disease and discomfort in your 
flocks than the sunshine, and the south front, especially in the long 
house, permits the greatest amount of it. Let it flood the coops and 
buildings as much as possible. 
Comfort and Convenience .—A hen would probably consider 
a house about three feet high ideal, especially in cold 
weather, but for the convenience of the caretaker we must 
build them higher; unnecessary height means a colder and more 
expensive house, so build as low as possible, consistent with con¬ 
venience. The farther the roosts are from the open end the better for 
the fowls—twelve feet is better than less. Make the pen shorter rather 
than narrower, if you want a certain floor space. 
Nests .—Nests placed on the ground outside and against 
the building, covered with a slanting board to shed the 
rain, are sometimes very satisfactory. If within the building, 
they should be above the floor and boxes about fourteen 
inches square will be found to answer the purpose. They 
are preferable to expensive lumber nests as they can be des¬ 
troyed when mites get into them. When trap nests are used, one nest 
should be provided for each two or three hens, otherwise half the num¬ 
ber of nests will be sufficient. 
Cost of Building .—It is easy to be extravagant in build¬ 
ing. Don’t do it. Extravagance and waste are the cause 
of as many failures as inexperience. Limit the cost of 
providing house room to sixty dollars for material per hundred 
hens. It can be done for less, perhaps, but ought not to cost more. A 
poultryman should be able to do his own building, even if he hires it 
done. By knowing how, it will be done right and to hire a carpenter 
for every little job is expensive. 
Fixtures .—Have all fixtures such as grit boxes, feed hoppers, 
water dishes, etc., off the floor. We build our hoppers for grit, char¬ 
coal, oyster shell and ground grain, between the 2x4 studding and pre¬ 
fer them to anything we can buy. Have them two feet above the 
floor so no litter or dirt can get into them. In permanent houses have a 
platform two feet above the ground across the entire rear of the pens, 
above which the roosts are placed. This platform catches all the drop¬ 
pings, means less labor in cleaning, and means a clean floor for the hens 
in bad weather. The water dish can be placed on the edge of this 
platform. 
