The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-11

One or More Units May Be
Added As Needed

8y PROF. FREDERIC II. sTONEBURN
Many notifications of the Maine cur
tain-front poultry house. the pioneer
fresh air house." have appeared during
the past decade The latest of these is
the New Jersey type. which is illustrated
and described herewith by Professor
Stoneburn.
The basis of this type is the single
pen or unit, 20 feet square One or
more additional units may be added from
time to time, as the necessities of the
growing business demand
Business poultrymen are not in accord
as to the most satisfactory method of
housing their laying fowls They may
roughly be divided into two parties
those who believe jim the colony system.
under which the stock is housed in COM
paratively small flocks in many single
pen houses, which are scattered over
large area of ground, and those who
prefer the long or continuous house di-
vided into pens, each pen having sepa-
rate run or yard connected.
The advocates of the former or ex-
tensive system, argue that under this
plan the birds are given greater liberty,
more natural conditions and that, as. n
result. they are healthier and more pro-
ductive. That there is no danger of
ground poisoning which usually ac-
companies the concentration of large
flock on a small area. Also, that the
work of caring for them is greatly re-
duced during the spring and summer
months, when so much time is consumed
in the work of incubating and brooding
the seasons output of chickens.
On the other hand the adherents OF
the intensive system hold that the con-
centrat.on of the stock enables the opera
tor to keep more fowls on given area.
and that the daily labor of watering,
feeding cleaning and egg collection is
more quickly and easily accomplished
during the bad weather and short days
of winter
Each side of the argument has many
points in its favor. and all possible ad-
vantages cannot be combined in one sys-
TEN. 1t is sufficient at this time to
merely point out the fact that there are
many successful plants being operated
under each plan. which clearly indicates
that it is not the system itself, but the
way it is used that brings results.
Long OF CONTINUOUS house
There are many types cf long or con-
tinuous houses, but it is probable that the
best of these is the old Maine expert
ment station house and the various mod-
fications of it which have appeared since
the pioneer structure was erected.
Briefly stated the characteristic fea-
lures of this type include the following:
Large-szed pens. absence of aIeyway
back of pens, large openings in the front
to admit an abundance of air. said OPEN
ings being fitted with cloth-eovered frames
which are closed during disagreeal lie
weather. This type of building may oe
constructed of any desired length and
in depth ranging from IA to 20 feet.
The building described in this article
was recently erected at the New Jersey
experiment station. 1t includes the de-
sirabe features of the Maine house, with
certain changes which seem to obe i'm
provements.
rhe basis of this structure is the single
pen or unit, 20 feet square. AS these
units are identical in every respect, one
ers more may be erected at first and
others added as the business expands.
The figures here given apply to a doub' !.
unit to accommodate 200 birds. The ae-
company illustration clearly shows the
more important details of constructions
This house is 40 feet long and 20 feer
wide. The front, or south wall, is nine
feet high the rear wall four and a half
feet high. The roof is a single span or
shed roof. A cross partition, boarded
solidly from floor to roof and extending
from the rear wall to within six feet
of the front wall, divides the structure
into equal parts and breaks all drafts.
If it is desired 10 keep the stock in two
10
used to carry the partition to the front
wall and a suitable doorway provided.
AS a house of this kind requires the
expenditure of considerable money, it is
good policy to provide permanent foun-
daton. OF course the sills may be placed
on posts set into the ground at suit
able distances. but such underpnning Is
not usually considered satisfactory and
concrete is generally used.
When making concrete foundations the
first step is to earefullys locate the cor
ners of the building and then dig
trenches about three feet deep and a
foot or more in width from corner to
corner Cinders or crushed stone to
depth of 16 inches are next placed in the
bottom of the trench and solidly tampea
Upon this the concrete Is poured in rough.
board forms. eight inches wide, and car
ried to a point well above the surface
Iron bolts are set at intervals in tho
concrete Whlle the latter is still wet
and these pass through the sills holding
them securely in place.
Cement Floor Desirable
The floor may be made of earth or
cement, as preferred. although the latter
viii usually prove more satisfactory For
convenience, the cement floor may be laid
before the building itself is erected
FOR house of this size with single
walls, roof and back covered with roofing