Housing and Supplies - Raising Poultry - page 28

The rafters should stick out from the frame slightly on the lower, back
end of the building and be nailed in flush with the front end. This will allow
the snow and water to drip off behind the building.
11. Nail the 1×4s (2.5×10 cm) across the top of the rafters at 2-foot (0.6 m) intervals
down the slope. Now you are ready to put on the metal roof and siding.
Roofing, Walls, and Ventilation
Metal roofing (or sheet metal) is usually obtainable in 39-inch (1 m) widths of varying
lengths. This width provides a coverage area of 36 inches (0.9 m) with a 3-inch (7.5 cm)
overlap. Proper ventilation can be provided on the tallest wall, which should be between
7.5 and 8 feet (2.3-2.5 m) tall. Use heavy chicken wire or welded wire over a window
for circulation. This allows fresh air to enter and harmful ammonia and humidity to exit.
It also allows light and warm sunshine to come in. If you live in heavy raccoon or pred-
ator areas, you'll want to use a very heavy gauge wire.
Build the roof first so the edge matches up with the walls, allowing minimal cracks
for snow and rain to come through.
1. You are now ready to create the walls with the remaining sheet metal. First,
provide supports at the midpoint of two walls by nailing a 2×4 (5×10 cm) ho-
rizontally halfway up each wall. Do this for the back wall and the end wall op-
posite the door. Wait to do the front wall and the one with the door. Connect the
2×4 (5×10 cm) to the 4×4 (10×10 cm) the same way you did the top and bottom
boards (see page 28 , step 8).
2. Now nail the sheet metal to the 2×4s (5×10 cm) with the 1¾-inch (4.5 cm) roofing
nails reinforced with rubber washers. Place nails about every 18 inches (46 cm)
into a top or bottom or midway support board. Place the sheets so the ridges in
the metal sheets run up and down. The first sheet should have its broad lip lined
up with the edge of the building so that the narrow lip on the other side will be
overlapped the next sheet. Continue with that system to provide a tight seal.
3. Nail a 2×4 (5×10 cm) across the framing for the tallest wall, down about 2 feet
(0.6 m) from the top of the roof and parallel to the ground.
4. Cover the opening between the roof and the 2×4 (5×10 cm) you've just attached
with the heavy chicken wire or welded wire. Then repeat the above steps for at-
taching sheet metal, placing a midway across the front 2×4 (5×10 cm) for support
as you did on the back.