Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-08
FARMERS WEEK.
Two Important Lectures
In U. Of M. Course.
The Poultry House and How It
Should Be Constructed,
Making Old Orchards Profitable,
Told by Prof. & F. Hischings.

Orono, Me, March 7-(Special) -
In constructing poultry house OF
any type there are several things of
prime Importance that must be con-
sldered. said Professor w f. Schoppe
at Farmers Week course, University
Of Maine today. OF these, comfort Of
the birds, convenience Of the caretaker
and costs are the foremost; such es-
sentials as ventilation. protection from
drafts, use OF sunlight. etc, are en-
bodied in these. They are not always
in accord and in fact a building that
is most comfortable for poultry might
be nearly impossible to keep clean,
or be SO ineonvenient for the person
taking care of the birds that the work
would never be properly done. Meth
er does it follow because house costs
a large sum of money that it will be
ideal for the birds or that the work
can be conveniently done, in fact
quite the reverse is often the case
Convenience of location and ar
rangement is essential to economy of
time in care and management. Many
chicken troubles can be traced to the
selecting of an unsuitable site or soil
not adapted to efficient sanitation.
Perfect dryness is essential and since
this is largely controlled by ventila-
ton, the best possible system should
be installed for that purpose. AL
though dampness is to a great extent
caused by improper ventilation. con-
ditions surrounding the poultry house
may be such that it would be impos-
sible to keep ii dry. unless some sys-.
/ TEN of drainage was Installed and the
house constructed with a view to
overcoming them. Sandy soil is best
adapted to poultry, but conditions
may be made such that birds will do
well on heavy soil. If these conditions
are to be overcome the land should be
drained and the houses set off the
ground so as to keep them dry,
therefore it is impossible to use dirt
or cement floors. On sandy soil the
dirt floor or the cement floor can be
used very successfully, provided they
are properly cleaned. With the dirt
floor at least 6 inches of dirt should
be removed every year and fresh dirt
put in. Although the cement floor
is very hard on the birds feet, this
disadvantage is easily overcome by
placing two or three inches OF dirt or
sand over the floor and then putting
straw or shavings on top. Such floors
are excellent for the birds and are
| easily cleaned and disinfected.
OF the systems of ventilation advo-
Gated for poultry houses the curtain
or open front house fulills the great
| est number of desired requirements
= II,
lation of air into the house during
the day and permits the maximum
amount of sunshine to enter the pens
which helps to dry out the litter and
make the birds more comfortable
The result is that even though the
house is cold the birds are comfortable
and viii stratch and dust during the
day. The open front house is also
free from white frost.
The type of house recommended by
| the Maine Experiment Station in Bull
ietin 357 meets the requirements of
the ideal popultry house It is tn
combination curtain front and glass,
Window very desirable type since
j on stormy days if the curtains have
to be closed there is sufficieaI light
| in the house so that the birds are ac-
tive. Each pen is 16xS0 feet with an
open window in the center of the pen
in the top half of wall Opening is
31-2 feet wide. 10 feet long. On each
side of the opening is a glass window
the size of storm window. These
windows are screwed on and are never
removed. The open window is pro-
viJed with a muslin curtain to close
at night and on such stormy days as
the rain or snow drives into the house
otherwise the curtain is always open.