Show BUILDING essentials while we are still on the general subject of poultry house construction lets consider some of the more obvious details which probably most everybody knows about but which tire are pretty important t and ought not to be overlooked by anyone roots roofs must not leak we might call that the first commandment shingle r roots should have a one third pitch while composition or metal roots roofs can be built almost hat flat any kind of a roof will be found to last much longer if it la is given a reasonable slant floors are important to the health and productiveness of the birds we are now building all of our new buildings even the small colony houses with solid concerto floors they are easy to clean very sanitary rat proof and comparatively inexpensive in any district where gravel and sand can be had close by always be sure to keep concrete floors well bedded with straw or some kind of litter especially pec ally lally in winter so that they will be dry and not too cold wood floors can be made satisfactory it if from lys 1 to 3 feet above the ground it if closer to the ground they make rat harbors and soon rot out they should be high enough above the ground to let dogs pass under and to permit circulation of air to keep them dry sometimes S 0 mo even dirt floors will do if ti the emoff soli Is very light sandy end and d dry ry be sure to build the ground up several inches for the floor above the level of the outside ground it Is pretty important to take out the old d dirt once a year and replace it with fresh sand or fine gravel ind and earth from some place where poultry has never been before dirt floors harbor rats are dusty and unhealthy when the birds scratch about a lot and are expensive in tills this way that the litter does not last nearly so long on them as it does on a lumber or concrete floor if the house is a long one it wants to be divided up by partitions main partitions solid tor for the lower three feet and wire netting from there up or solid all the way up should extend clear across the building every 25 to 40 feet secondary partitions should be built out from the back of the house about halt half way across or at least to the front edge of the dropping boards and from the dropping boards up to the roof to prevent nr oras drafts from one end of the house to the t he other and also to prevent the birds from overcrowding in one section of the roost |