The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-01-12
Fresh Air for Poultry-Thorough
Ventilation Of Houses Desirable.

There has been in recent years a
marked tendency in poultry house
construction toward securing more
fresh air, both day and night, by re-
placing the glass windows with cloth
or muslin or by making the front
either of muslin or entirely open.
Tight houses with double walls are
almost relics Of the past, even in the
most northern parts Of the United
States. Fresh air is one OF the prime
essentials IN poultry houses, and
warmth secured by keeping the house
shut up tightly is not as desirable as
a lower temperature and some VEN
tilation. A house which gives salts
faction in Maine will also give good
results in Texas or California, but it
is preferable to build more open and
consequently less expensive houses in
the South than in the North.
The back and sides of the poultry
house should be absolutely tight in
order to prevent drafts which may
cause colds in the flock. This leaves
only the front Of the house Of mus
lin construction or entirely open. An
opening which can be closed by a
shutter may be used to advantage in
the rear wall Of poultry house in
the South, or in growing houses in all
parts of this country, but this should
be constructed so that there will be
no draft in cold weather. The front
of the house should be so high that
the windows or openings will allow
the sun to shine we'll back into the
interior during the winter. Burlap,
unbleached muslin, or light weight
duck cloth may be used for curtains
in the front. This cloth should be
thin enough to allow a slow circula-
ton of air without draft. This is
impossible if too heavy a grade Of
duck cloth is used or if the cloth is
oiled or painted. -.
For southern conditions, houses
with the fronts entirely open are we'll
adapted, and this type>is used with
success in all sections of the United
States. They require less attention
than houses where the ventilation IS
controlled by the use Of curtains or
windows, but in the northern half OF
the United States the majority Of
poultry keepers prefer to have part
or all Of the front Of their poultry
houses under control, in order to
keep the snow, rain, and wind from
beating into the house and to pro-
tect the poultry during the colder
weather. If the curtain is not at
tended to, however, curtain front
houses may be less satisfactory than
the open front type even in northern
latitudes.
A large amount of glass in the
front of the house makes it warm
during the day but cold st night, as
glass radiates heat very rapidly.
Some glass, however, is helpful in
providing light when the curtains are
closed. Some ventilation should be
given in a poultry house even on the
coldest night. 1t is usually best
secured by leaving small window
open or having muslin curtains in
the front of the house. If the house
is shut up tightly without any muslin
curtains in the front there is ten
dency for moisture to collect in the
house and condense on the rafters
and other woodwork on frosty morn
ings. 1t is not necessary to close the
muslin curtains in the front of the
house except in very cold or stormy
weather. Hens are protected by ma
ture with warm feathers and high
body temperature so that they are
better able to withstand dry, cold air
than warmer air which is damp.