The Republican journal., 1916-02-03
FRESH AIR FOR POULTRY.
Thorough Ventilation of Houses Desirable,
Both Day and Night. Even in the Coolest
Weather.

Both Day and Night. Even in the Coolest
Weather
There has been in recent years mark
ed tendency in poultry house construction
toward securing more fresh air, both day
and night, by replacing the glass WIN
dows 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 lower temperature
and some ventilation. A house which
gives satisfaction 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 the North.
The back and sides of the poultry house
should be absolutely tight in order to
preveI drafts which may cause colds IN
the flock. This leaves only the front OF
the house Of muslin construction or en-
tirely open. An opening which can
be closed by shutter may be used to
advantage in the rear wall of poultry
house in the South, or in growing houses
in 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
well back into the interior during the
winter. Burlap, unbleached muslin, or
lightweight duck cloth may be used for
curtains in the front. This cloth should
be thin enough to allow a slow circulation
OF air without draft. This is impossible
if too heavy grade of duck cloIh is
used or If the cloth is oiled or painted.
For southern conditions, houses with
toe fronts entirely open are well adapt
ed, 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 20 keep the snow,
rain and wind from beating into the house
and 10 protect the poultry during the
colder weather. If the curtain Is not at
tended to, however, curtain-f 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 curing the day
but cold at night, as glass radates heat
very rapidly Some glass, however, is
helpful IN providing light when the cur
tains are closed. Some ventilation should
be given in a poultry house even on the
coolest night. 1t is usually best secured
by leaving small window open or having
muslin curtains in front of the house. If
the house is shut up tightly without any
muslin curtains in the front there is a
tendency for moisture to collect in the
house and condense on the rafters and
other woodwork on frosty mornings. 1t
is not necessary to close the muslin cur
tains In the front of the house except in
very cold or stormy weather. Hens are
protected by nature with warm feathers
and high body temperature so that