The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-06-11
How to Construct a Poultry
House.

House.
D.partment of Agriculture Issues New Bull
Ietin That Should be of Interest to Poul
tymen from Maine to California.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 8, 1914
Poultry houses may be built more oper
and consequently less extensively in oul
Southern States than in the north, ac'
cmiing to Investigators of the U. S.
Dspartment of Agriculture. However,
sbouse which gives satisfaction in Maine
will also give good results in Texas or
California. The best site for poultry
house in any location is one where good
water and air drainage are available.
The floor and yards will then be dry.
The house should not occupy a low hol-
low in which cold air settles. Wherever
Mssbe, southern or southeastern eX-
psure should be selected, although this
k10t essential if there is any good rea-
son for facing the house in a different
drecuon.
Poultry House Construction" is the
title Of the Departments new Farmers
Bulletin NO. 574,) in which are explain
ed the main features that should be con-
sidered, and in which pictures and plans
Of satisfactory houses are shown. Every
pQutryman who contemplates erecting
rev poultry buildings is urged to write
70 the department for this bulletin,
which will be sent him free on applica-
ton, as long as the departments supply
sss.
THE INTENSIVE SYSTEM" AND THE
COLONY SYSTEM"
There. are two popular ways in which
erase poultry, the intensive system"
and the colony system" The first of
these aims to save steps. and accom-
pisbes this purpose. Long stationary
ho1ses are used. 1t is easier, however,
toseap the birds healthy and to repro
luce The stock under the second system.
Under the colony system, the birds
are allowed free range, the houses,
which hold about 100 hens each, being
paced from 200 to $50 feet apart, so that
tie stock will not kill the grass. This
system may be adapted to severe winter
Conditions by drawing the colony houses
together in convenient place at the be.
ginning of winter, thus reducing the
a0or during the cold months. The first
system is more suited for hens used sole
y for the production of market eggs
'0an for those used to breed stock.
AS FEW FENCES AS POSSIBLE.
Fences mean an outlay of money, and
IBIS outlay is more or less continuous, as
hey must be maintained after being in
stalled. There should be as few fences
as possible dividing the lots and the
Yards, as land can be kept "swect" more
EASILY if not fenced, and fresh, sweet
Aad is valuable asset in poultry rails
ing.
IN good soil, greensward may be
Kept up by allowing 200 to $50 square
'Fel Of land per bird. This means 217 or
IA birds per acre. More space is neces-
vary on poor or light land. A larger
number of fowls are usually kept to the
afe where double yards are used and the
'ld is frequently cultivated. Plymouth
@NS, and the other heavy meat breeds
u small yards require fences to feet
"gh while a fence to feet high is
,'cesSary for leghorns. The upper two
vel OF the fence for the latter may be
~V'ned inward at an angle of 80 degrees,
4sstrand of barbed wire may be used
vi Top of the regular wire to keep them
''Dnned. 1t is also sometimes necessary
~clp the wing feathers of one wing of
SEse birds that persist in getting out.
8 Ooard or strip along the top Of the
s'nce is not advisable. Hens will often
ToVer such an arrangement.
'Ots may be set or driven into the
'.0uad They should be set 8 to 10 feet
r. ''' with common poultry netting, or
VIZ feet with woven wire. Corner
''@ should be about 8 inches in dame
~, and be set feet in the ground,
h.I e Intervening posts may be a or s
4eS IN diameter and set feet in the
y, ssu''o' That part of the post which is
N the ground may be charred or
w. seo with some wood preventative to
'n'age, while corner posts should be
~y braced or set in cement.