The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-08-24
Poultry House Construction.
BY W. A. Brown, Assistant Professor of
Animal Industry, U. of NJ.

A great difference is apparent IN the
types of poultry houses recommended
ten or fifteen years ago and those recon-
mended at present. Previously tight,
warm house was considered ideal for
winter conditions. In such the birds laid
fairly we'll but their vitality was so de-
pleted through being housed under such
highly artificial conditions that they rare
ly made good breeding stock. At the
present time the general tendency in
house construction is toward more
open, fresh air, drier type of house, and
in some instances very good results have
been obtained in this State through the
use Of absolutely open front houses. 1t
has been gradual change that has taken
place between these two extremes. Prob
ably the first indication of an attempt to
get away from the old type was in the
construction of the roosting room,
scratching shed type OF house which con-
sisted of a scratch shed, and separate
roostng, laying room. This type gave
much better results than the previous
form but was somewhat unsatisfactory
on account Of the increased expense, in
CURED through the vast expanse OF roof
required, and the fact that it was practl-
cally impossible to keep the litter dry
Various means were used to close the
front of these scratching sheds in inclem-
ent weather. At first hinged doors, both
vertical and horizontal were used; later
canvas curtains.
A few years ago Mr.. A. F. Hunter,
then editor of the American Poultry
Advocate, suggested a plan of combin-
ing the scratching shed and roosting
room lin use in many places at that time)
into one room. The Maine Experiment
Station was among the first to take up
the new form of housing, and after try
ing it out found it to give good satisfac-
ton. This type of house (the curtain
front, curtain roosting closet house, is
now used in all parts of the country.
However, it has not proven quite as sat
isfactory for farm conditions as it has
for the large commercial poultry plants.
The farmer needs more nearly self
regulating house, one that does not
necessitate his being there at stated in
tervals to close or open the curtains as
the case may be. Poultrymen, operating
large commercial plants, propose making
some slight changes. The first of these
is the removal of the curtain in front of
the roost, and the second is to allow the
curtains in the front of the house to re-
III,
Systems of Poultry Housing. There
are many systems of poultry housing, but
if carefully analysed they would probably
fall under two heads: first-the intensive
system, and second-the extensive or
colony house system. The first consists
of long, continuous house of many pens.
smaller individual buildings called colony
;o1 H.,
or movable. Each system has its sever
system being Q) less area Of land re-
birds in larger flocks; 81 greater con-
venience for the individual, particularly
in the winter season.
Advantages of the colony house system
% allows the birds larger range; (2)
permits the use of clean ground each
season; 81 is of assistance in the isola-
ton and control of disease. Some poul-
trymen use both systems. They build
their colony houses so that they are suit
able for either winter or summer work,
suitable either for breeding pens for fowl
or for brc oding houses for young chicks.
The plan generally followed is to pick
out the breeding stock late in the winter
and to move them into the colony houses.
Then Just as soon as the weather permits
the houses are moved out on free range
They are placed at from 200 to 800 feet
apart each way or so arranged that there
will be from $50 to 200 head Of stock per
acre, thus the colony house system offers
some special advantages to the farmer.
Colony houses should oe in size about
X IL feet or IA feet.
Location Of the Poultry House-It
matters not whether it is colony or
permanent house, too much care cannot
be used in the selection of high, dry,
sandy, or gravelly knoll on which to
locate the house. Provisions should also
be made so that the house may have a
southern, or better southwestern ex-
posture. Birds need all the sunshine they
can get especially in the short winter
days.
Essentials in Poultry House Construc-
tion-Dryness, fresh air and light are
necessary for the general health and
vigor of the stock Birds are peculiar
IN that they exhale large quantities of
moisture from their lungs. 1t is for this
reason that so many of the walls and
ceilings of our houses frost in the win
ter. The moisture thus CONCEALED melts
with the first warm spell, the litter
becomes damp, and if not removed
promptly, may cause disease and weak
en- the vitality of the flock. Fresh air is
essential, but caution should be taken
to keep the house free from drafts,
in the fall, winter and spring. |