The Delta independent., 1908-11-13
The Poultry House.

the poultry as 1t is dairy cows or good
driving horses Very small profits
come from those fiocks that roost in
the trees or perhaps on the farm imple-
ments in an open shed. Fresh air Is
necessary, but it must not be given in
such large doses, especially during the
winter months. The hen that ro osts in
the open during the winter uses all her
food to keep her body warm. If the
poultry business is worth doing at all,
it is worth doing right. If it is done
right, the flock must be sheltered.
Kinds of Shelter-The poultry house
can be successfully constructed of
brick, stone, adobe, sod or cement. 1t
does not need to be expensive. Many
of our fanciers put too much money
into buildings. All that is necessary is
that the houses are warm, properly
ventilated and we'll lighted. The wall
does not need to be doubled, providing
the single one is tightly constructed.
With the frame house, one tn ickness
of good matched lumber, sue as drop
siding, flooring or shlp-lap, is all that is
necessary. 1t is good pla to build
the outside wall of some of the cheaper
materials than the matched lumber
mentioned, such as barn siding with
battons, and then lath and plaster on
the inside or line it with building paper
preferably tar paper. This makes
warm house which is somewhat more
expensive than the single walled house,
but does not present so good an out
side appearance.
For a good, cheap house, one that
presents good appearance, there is
nothing better than the single wall,
covered with drop siding This house
conditions. 1t can cheaply and easily
be made warmer by lining it with
heavy tar paper, holding the PAPER in
place with lath.
Houses may be constructed of brick
or cement, but usually these materials
are too expensive.
Form of House-Make the house
large enough. Make it wide. Too
many houses are now being constructed
which are entirely too small and mar
row. In the narrow house the chickens
are required to roost too close to the
windows. The wide house meets a
double requirement: First the roosts
can be placed away from the doors and
windows, second, scratching space is
provided in the same house and a spe-
cial scratching shed is not necessary.
A house large enough for 100 laying
hens should be from IL to l6 feet wide,
and from 20 to % feet long. The roof
should slope to the north and all open
ings placed on the south side, with the
exception perhaps of door, which may
be placed in one end. Make the back
wall of the house AZ to feet high and
the south one from to feet. Then
place the windows high so the suns
rays will fall well back upon the floor.
The roosts are then placed in the
back one-half of the house, running
parallel with the length of it. This
gives the front one-half as a scratching
and feeding space. Place the roosts all
on the same level, about half way
between the ground and the roof. A
2x4 set on edge with the upper edge
rounded makes a good roost. Place
roosts from l2 to 15 inches apart and
srom to IL inches above the dropping
board. 1t is a good idea to place the
roosts on a frame which is hinged at
the back so they can be raised and thus
make the dropping board easier to
clean.
with the passageway and the only
entrance on the back side. Place them
in the house with the open side to the
wall or under the dropping board with
the open side to the rear. This makes
a dark nest and prevents egg eating.
A drop door can be arranged in the
front side of the nest through which
the eggs may be gathered.
Ventilation-Fresh air is abso lutely
essential at all times. Ventilator
shafts are expensive, har to construct
and give poor satisfaction. The air
cannot be well regulated to suit the
occasion without almost constant at
tention. During the past few years a
better method of ventilation has been
tested and is now being successfully
used by many poultry breeders. This
better method consists in constructing
the north side and the two ends of the
house without openings. Then place
all openings on the south side. and
instead of using glass for windows,
cover the openings with heavy canvas
or burlap. This will allow free
passage of air in and out, thus purify
ing the inside air and at the same time
will not allow a draft on the hens.
This method of ventilation is to be
recommended. The ventilation of
houses already constructed can be