Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-04-03
Rsmodeling Poultry Houses.

every farm has one or more such build.
ings and they aggregate . tremendous
investment Of capital from which little
or no returns are now being secured.
These houses are close, damp, and
filthy. In them fowls do not and will
not give . satisfactory production OF
eggs, and the detrimental effect of such
housing conditions upon the health and
vitality OF the hens makes the hatching
and rearing Of chickens serious and un-
necessary handicap to their owners.
Proper remodeling Of these buildings
90 as to make them meet the biological
requirements of birds In their housing
conditions would be Of enormous sdvsn-
tage. Correction OF these damp, poorly
ventilated quarters would encourage
pullets In egg production, especially In
winter production, when eggs are most
valuable. 1t would also lower mortality
from oil natural causes and largely solve
such incubator difficulties as "death in
the shelP' and weak chicks, the most
common cause of which is the devitaliz-
ed condition Of the parent stock and
most often too damp housing conditions.
Sanitary conditions would also be i'm
proved. The admission of light, SUM-
shine, and fresh air is not only Of advan-
tage to the birds but also an aid to the
| poultryman in checking the inroads of
mites and disease germs, for they thrive
best in dark, dampness and filth. Fur
thermore, these changes would make car
ing for the poultry much moro agreeable
as we'll as profitable.
PRINCIPLES OF POULTRY HOUSING
Many types of poultry houses are In
use throughout the country. This diver
sity 10 largely due to the fact that anna
teurs land they are not all smateurs)
start out in the poultry business with
ideas of their own, and incorporate these
ideas In their houses whether or not
they have been tested out and proven
desirable, and regardless Of what effect
they may have on the life OF the birds.
Every conceivable type Of house, hot
and cold, big and little, high and low,
has been experimental with at some
time or other and many different types
have proved satisfactory under varying
conditions. But the essentials for suo-
cess In sll types of houses, regularly
constructed or remodeled, are the same.
These are, (l) fresh air, (2) freedom from
dampuess, (S) freedom from draughts,
(4) sunlight. and (0 cleanliness.
Fortunately these conditions may be
secured In the most economical struc-
ture; all the requirements being, dry
floor, . roof, three light walls and sun
ny exposure with an open front. Get
ting rid of excessive moisture was for q
long time difficult problem. The smell
- Ne
on the rafters, white frost In cold weath-
or, and sticky litter, all indicate damp
ness. This comes. not from the atmos-
phere, but is given of by the lungs Of
the birds in respiration, the only means
they have of disposing Of an excess of
water which In most animals is excreted
by the kidneys and passes of In the
urine. The "open" or "curtain" trout
house has solved the problem. The only
difficulty is to arrange the front 80 as to
have the air but no drsughts.
Experience shows the best ventilator
or open space to be continuous open
ing three or four feet above the floor and
extending across the greater portion OF
the building, or each pen In the build
| ing, If there is more than one. The exact
size of this opening 10 determined from
the capacity of the pen. Most poultry
supply houses recommend as much as
one third Of the house front to ba open.
This amount Of opening is sure to dry
the house of but Il is rather extreme for
! Names climate. For the building four
teen to sixteen feet In depth ono square
foot of open front to ten square feet OF
floor space has been found ample. This
means one square foot OF opening for
each two or two and half birds. Usual
ly the open space should be made three
feet deep and as long as Is necessary to
secure ample ventilation.
This opening may we'll be supplement.
ed by windows to admit more light and
sunshine, and they are best located on
either end of the opening and extending
down nearer the floor than 1t 10 desirable
to put the open space. This arrange
ment gives the house sunlight for long
or period each day and coming AZ Il does
from different directions its disperse-
ment lessons the amount OF shadow.
Sometimes when space is not available
at the ends of the open front the glass is
put below 1t down nearer the floor than
It Is wise to have an opening.
Some attention should also be given to
the arrangement Of the interior fixtures
and furnishings Of poultry house.
However, these are matters which Affect
the attendants convenience rather than
the life of the bird and hence arc eco
nomic and not biological In nature. Con-
sequently, although desirable, they are
not essential.
The interior should be ss simple and
plain as possible so az not to afford un.
necessary hsrboring places for lice,
mites and the accumulation Of filth. A
dropping board is distinct advantage.
II should be located 2 IL or 8 feet above
the floor with the roosts to IL inches
above IL. It is convenient to have the
roosts hinged 80 that they will turn up
for cleaning and spraying.
All fixtures should be elevated, either
suspended from the walls or resting on
platforms. This practice prevents litter
and filth from getting into the water
pail and hoppers. 1t also greatly In
creases the capacity of the house and
adds to its attractiveness and conven.
ience.
Hen houses should be clean. Before
| the Improvement of an old building 10
completed q thorough cleaning and dis
infection is necessary. After ordinary
methods of cleaning have been employ.
ed the interior should be washed
down or sprayed with some good disin.
fectant such as crude oarbolic acid or
one of the commercial preparations OF q
similar character. Whitewash 10 among
the best, especially whom q little disin-
fectsut 10 added. The fresh. clean ap-
psarance of q newly whitened house 10
pleasing. It also helps In Frightening
the interior and more evenly dispersing
1.-The light - well - being an Aid In oheck-
ling the inroads Of parasites"
More Corn.
We can raise moro ooru aud not fear
the effect of overproduction. This can
mot be said Of cotton, wheat, milk or