The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-05-09
Children Crv
FOR FLETCHER'S
CASTo RIA
Housing of Poultry.

Housing of Poultry.
address by Professor W. F. Schoppe, at
Farmers Week course, University of Maine,
Orono.]
In constructing poultry house of any
type there are several things of prime
Importance that must be considered. Of
these comfort of the birds, convenience of
the caretaker, and cost, are the foremost;
such essentials as ventilation, protection
from drafts, use of sunlight, ETC., are
embodied in these. They are not always
in accord, and in fact building that is
most comfortable for poultry might be
nearly impossible to keep clean, or be so
inconvenient for the person taking care
of the birds that the work would never
be properly done. Neither 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 arrange
ment 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 con-
trolled by ventilation, the best possible
system should be installed for that pur-
pose. Although dampness is to great
extent caused by improper ventilation,
conditions surrounding the poultry house
may be such that it would be impossible
to keep it dry, unless some system 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 we'll 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 inches of dirt should be removed
every year and fresh dirt put in. AL
though 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 fulfills the greatest
number of desired requirements. This
system allows for a free circulation of
air into the house during the day and
permits the maximum amount of SUM-
shine 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 will scratch 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 Bulletin
357 meets the requirements of the ideal
poultry house. It is the combination
curtain front and glass window-a very
desirable type since on stormy days if
the curtains have to be closed there is
sufficient light in the house so that the
birds are active. Each pen is 16x30 with
an open window in the center of the pen
in the top half of wall. Opening is 1-2
! feet wide, 10 feet long. On each side of
the opening is glass window the size of
storm window. These windows are
screwed on and are never removed. The
open window is provided with 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.