Fig 5.—Rear view of piano-box houses shown in [fig. 4]. The openings at the rear are provided for ventilation and coolness in the hot weather. Windows could be used instead of solid shutters and would make the houses lighter when closed.

Such a house would be ample for a flock of 20 to 25 hens. It can be built quickly and easily and is cheap in construction. The material required is as follows:

BILL OF MATERIAL
Roof rafters, 5 pieces, 2 by 4 inches by 8 feet long.
Roof plates, 2 pieces, 2 by 4 inches by 8 feet long.
Sills, 4 pieces, 2 by 4 inches by 8 feet long.
Posts, 3 pieces 2 by 4 inches by 6 feet long; 2 pieces 2 by 4 inches by 4 feet long.
Stringer, 1 piece, 2 by 4 inches by 8 feet long.
Total pieces required to cut list:
  7 pieces 2 by 4 inches by 16 feet long.
  1 piece 2 by 4 inches by 12 feet long.
Total feet in board measure, 81.
ROOSTS AND DROPPING BOARD.
  1 piece 2 by 3 inches by 16 feet long.
  1 piece 2 by 3 inches by 10 feet long.
Total board measure, 13 feet.
  2 pieces 1 by 12 inches by 16 feet long.
Total board measure, 32 feet.
SHEATHING BOARDS
Roof, 5 pieces 1 by 12 inches by 16 feet long.
Two sides, 2 pieces 1 by 12 inches by 10 feet long; 3 pieces 1 by 12 inches by 12 feet long; 2pieces 1 by 12 inches by 14 feet long.
Front, 2 pieces 1 by 12 inches by 10 feet long.
Back, 2 pieces 1 by 12 inches by 16 feet long.
Total feet board measure, 216.
BATTEN STRIPS.
130 linear feet 1⁄2 by 2 inch strips, 24 board feet.
 24 linear feet 7⁄8 by 2 inch strips, for curtain frame, 4 board feet.
ROOFING
 80 square feet roofing paper; nails and tins.
HARDWARE
  2 pairs 8-inch T hinges for door.
  1 padlock for door.
  3 pairs 4-inch T hinges for curtain frame and rear ventilator.
  5 pounds 10-penny wire nails for framing.
 10 pounds 8-penny wire nails for sheathing.
  5 pounds 4-penny wire nails for stripping.
 21 square feet poultry wire, 3⁄4-inch mesh, for front.
  3 yards muslin for curtain.
 32 rough bricks will build piers.
FLOOR
If floor is desired in house, add the following material:
  2 pieces 2 by 4 inches by 16 feet long.
  4 pieces 1 by 12 inches by 16 feet long.
Total feet board measure, 85.
TOTAL LUMBER REQUIRED
Without floor, 370 board feet.
With floor, 455 board feet.
Lumber can be rough or dressed.

Fig. 6.—Plan of a simple back-yard poultry house.

[Larger drawing]

When the soil is well drained and consequently will remain dry no floor need be used in the house, the ground itself serving as the floor. Often a slight dampness can be corrected by filling up the floor several inches above the outside ground with sand, cinders, gravel, or dry dirt. Three or four inches of the surface of the floor, and of the run if a very small run is used, should be removed and replaced with fresh dirt two or three times a year. If the ground is so wet or damp that this condition can not be corrected by filling it is best to provide a board floor as this will help to keep the house dry, will allow easier cleaning, and will promote the general health and welfare of the hens. A house with a board floor should be set on posts or blocks, so that it is 5 to 12 inches above the ground. When this space is left the floor will not rot so quickly and rats are not so likely to take refuge under the house. (See [fig. 7].)

Fig. 7.—A good type of open-front poultry house for a small flock. The front can be closed with a muslin curtain on cold nights. The house is set on brick piers so as not to afford a refuge for rats. Notice the nests built out on the front of the house where the eggs can be reached by raising the hinged cover.