The Republican journal., 1911-09-14
POULTRY HOUSES.
[By VIM. F. Schoppe, Assistant Poultryman at
the Montana Experiment Station.]

very much In this State, notifications OF
the details of this plan may be necessary
in some districts, although the general
principles will apply everywhere.
The poultry house described is similar
to that adopted by the Maine Expert
ment Station after several years of ex-
perimenting with heated houses and
glass-front houses. 1t is used extensive
ly throughout that State and has proved
very satisfactory.
Before describing the poultry house a
few suggestions will be given on points
to be observed in selecting a site, -on
soil, drainage, protection from prevail
ing winds, convenience of site, arrange
ment of buildings, etc.
SOIL FOR POULTRY YARDS.
The soil best adapted to poultry rails
ing is light sandy loan, into which the
rain sinks readily, taking with it the dis
solved droppings and filth. A heavy clay
soil tends to become filthy on the sur
face, due to slow drainage. Such soil
should be avoided if possible, or, il it
must be used, mix with the surface
layer good proportion of sand or Gin
ders.
COST OF LAND.
The cost of land sometimes governs
the location of a poultry plant. Land
that costs two or three hundred dollars
per acre is too high priced for poultry
keeping alone, especially when, by going
few miles from town, bench land that
is too rough for farm purposes can be
had at from one-tenth to one-tifteenth
the cost. Such land is generally better
adapted to poultry raising, being natur-
ally more easily and quickly drained.
DRAINAGE.
As indicated, the drainage should be
natural If it is not always possible to
select the best kind of soil for the poultry
yard, at least damp place should be
avoided. The buildings should be placed
on land with ample slope so that the
poultry house is not properly located if
mud, and filth On heavy soil conditions
may be greatly improved by digging
three shallow bitches, one under the
house and one on each side of it. These
should be connected and the main ditch
extended to lower ground few rods
from the house. This will remove sur
face water and allow the land to dry
quickly. Houses that are located in hol-
lows are often colder than if more eX-
posed, as the cold air settles to such
places, and, if the drainage is not good,
they are necessarily damp.
Cleanliness, sunshine, and freedom
from moisture are very essential for the
best results with poultry. Sandy or we'll
drained soil practically assures clean
yards. However, it is advisable to pillow
up the yards every few years, as this
hastens the decomposition of the drop
pings and keeps the yards much cleaner.
1t also lessons the danger from contag-
ious diseases.
ARRANGEMENT OF BUILDlNGS.
The buildings should be so placed as to
be sheltered as much as possible from
prevailing winds. Hills, trees, and large
farm buildings give excellent protection.
1t is very important, however, that in
seeking this protection from wind, we
do not shut out the sunlight, as the max
imum OF sunshine is desired during the
winter months. During the summer the
birds get ample sunshine, and it is then
usually necessary to provide some shade.
Trees furnish the best shade but, if they
cannot be had, suntioWers make a good
substitute. If these cannot be grown,
few boards laid on supports two or three
feet from the ground, or cheap cloth
stretched on frames, makes a very good
protection. Anything that will furnish
shelter from the direct rays of the sun is
all that is needed.
Close proximity to the rest of the farm
buildings, so that whoever cares for the
chickens can get to them often to give
them the needed attention, is much to be
desired. If the hen-house is too far
from the other buildings it becomes a
task to 60 to it. On the farm the women
usually care for the hens, and their
work ought not to be increased by trip
of two or three hundred yards to the
poultry house several times day. Bring
the hen-house near the other buildings
If the hens destroy the garden, shut
them in a yard, or, better still, put a
chicken Wire fence around the garden
and let the fowls have free range. The
house and yards should also be conven-
iently arranged. This makes it possible
to give the care needed by the birds at
the minimum of time and effort.
CLASSES OF POULTRY HOUSES.
Poultry houses are generally divided
into two classes, the small colony house,
and the large stationary house.
Colony houses are usually built on run
ners and can be easily moved from place
to place. Sometimes, however, they are
made stationary. The colony house sys-
TEN is generally used where the birds
are allowed free range, as they can be
changed from one field to another at any
time. This keeps them on clean ranges
and supplies an abundance of fresh green
food.
The large stationary houses are used
where considerable number of birds
are to be kept on small area of ground.
These houses generally consist of num-
Der of sections or pens. They may be
considered as number of colony houses
Joined together in one big house.
AS sunshine is very necessary to the
health of poultry, the houses should be
arranged and built to admit the greatest
amount. 1t is source of comfort to
the birds, and also dries the house, puri-
fies the air, and kills disease germs.
VENTILATION.
Ventilation is another important fac
tor to be considered in the construction
Of the poultry house. Prof. F. H. King
is authority for the statement that hens
breathe 8,278 cubic feet of air in twenty
four hours for every thousand pounds of
live weight; while man requires only
1888 cubic feet and cattle but 2,SO4 |
cubic feet
When this air is taken into the lungs
it is fairly dry, but when exhaled it con-