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Cincinnati, O.

     I have been using your poultry foods and remedies with the best of
     satisfaction and results for the last ten years.

FRED O. FLAHERTY._
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[Illustration:  SIMPLE A-SHAPED HOUSE]

From a quarter to a third of the front wall should be left open.  Cover the openings with one-inch mesh wire netting to keep the fowls in and repel all enemies and food-seeking sparrows.  Cloth-covered frames should be provided to close these openings and keep out driving storms.  The cloth, should be open in texture, as coarse cotton or heavy cheese cloth, not “boardy” and air-tight.  Frames may be left loose to hook or button on inside or outside, or hinged to the top of the openings and swung up against the roof when not in use.  In some cases, as in the Tolman house, these openings are never closed, day or night, summer or winter.

It is advisable to provide one or more glass windows in addition to the openings referred to above in order to admit light when the cloth-covered frames are closed.  The windows may be placed in either the front wall or the side walls.  In the latter case the sun is admitted to the building more hours each day, which is a big advantage during the fall and winter months.

Poultry house floors may be of cement, boards or earth.  Cement is best for large, permanent structures.  Board floors are excellent in houses of any size and are almost a necessity in small ones which may be moved frequently.  Earth floors seem to be favored by the fowls, but if used the earth should be filled in to bring the floor level several inches above the surrounding ground.  This to insure dryness.

The accompanying cuts show typical designs of satisfactory poultry houses.  When building, just bear the above principles in mind and the results will be satisfactory.

The Tolman type is a strictly “fresh air” or “open front” house.  For a flock of thirty to forty birds this house should be ten feet wide, sixteen feet front to back, seven feet to peak of roof, front wall four feet and rear wall five feet high.  The highest point of roof is five feet from the rear wall.

The entire south side is a wire-covered opening, save for boards placed as shown in the cut.  A full-sized door is located in the east wall opposite the window in the west side.  Roosts are placed near the north wall, level with or slightly above the front opening.

[Illustration:  V-SHAPED FEED TROUGH]

[Illustration:  NEST BOX]

[Illustration:  DRY MASH HOPPER]

[Illustration:  GRIT OR SHELL HOPPER]

[Illustration:  WATER BUCKET]