Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-10-20
POULTRY HOUSING.
BY PREM MOORE.
Poultry Husbandman, Extension Div


Poultry Husbandman, Extension Div
ision, University of Idaho)
One of the serious problems con-
fronting the poultry industry in Idaho,
at this time. is proper housing. The
possible income from Idaho hens is
no doubt cut in half from lack of prop
er shelter. 1t matters not how good
hens may be, if they are not properly
housed, they cannot be profitably pro-
ductive.
The essentials for properly con-
structed poultry houses are:
!. That they be so constructed as
to protect the fowls from the elements.
.. That they be well ventilated.
8. That they be tight on three sides.
4. That they have abundance of
sunshine.
5. That they be dry.
g. No hen house is complete with
out floor.
7. Droppings boards are essential.
8. Poultry houses should be no high
er than is necessary for the conven-
fence of the attendant.
9, Practice economy in construction.
1t is not necessary to build warm
poultry houses; the hens feathers
were provided by nature for warmth
Protect the fowls from the elements in
!, house that is well ventilated. Mois-
ture accumulates in close, warm
houses. Moist air freezes. There is
nothing in dry air to freeze. Thert
are but few frosted combs IN properly
ventilated houses.
Poultry houses should be tight on
three sides-north, east and west. The
ventilation and sunshine should be ad-
mitted from the same opening in the
south wall; with proper ventilation
and plenty Of sunshine, there will be
but little moisture in the house. Fowls
cannot be kept healthy in damp quar-
ters.
Floors are essential SO that fowls
may have a clean place to work. The
grain fed to fowls should be in litter
and the litter should be dry and clean
on earth floors. High board floors
are good. They should be we'll up Off
the ground to admit a free circulation
of air under them and thus insure a
dry floor at all times.
Many people do not appreciate the
value OF droppings boards. The old
time stair step perches must go, and
droppings boards with level perches
over the droppings boards provided to
take their place. When droppings
boards are used the floors are kept
clean. The droppings accumulate on
the droppings boards i'm place Of on
the floor. The droppings may be
cleaned away by scraping them into
an old tub with hoe. The poultry
house is usually the most neglected OF
all farm buildings. There are usually
several months accumulation or man
ure on the floor. Floors are difficult
TO clean. The droppings board makes
cleaning easy.
A poultry house should be no higher
than is necessary for the convenience
of the attendant If houses were built
for the convenience of fowls alone,
thew would not need to be more than
two feet high Unnecessary overhead
space is of no value. 1t serves TO
create draft. and fowls should be pro-
tected from draft, as much as 1t 1s
nossible TO do So Unnecessary over
head space adds to the cost OF con-
struction.
There are a. number OF types Of pouf-
try houses, but only three that are
practical
/. The Woods type or half mont
tor.
2. The combination or two-thirds
span roof.
3. The shed roof.
II is difficult to say just which OF
these types Of houses is best, but the
Woods type Is very serviceasle. 1t
includes all of the principles OF prop
er poultry house construction. Ihe
necessary overhead space for the con-
venience of the attendant is provided
fer with the minimum of waste. Com
plete plans and specifications for this
type of poultry house can be had from
the agricultural college of the un.ver-
sity of Idaho. Send 20 cents in post
age stamps and the plans will be for
warded. The Woods house is often
spoiled by people who feel that It is
necessary to modify the plans. They
feel it necessary to build them higher
than the plans call for. Ihey iind'
after it is too late. that they have
made mistake Every practical fea-
ture of this type of house is taken care
Of in the plans and specifications. the
lower opening should be covered WIN
fly screen The fly screen Will break
heavy winds and stop the snow ana
rain from beating into the house.
All poultry houses should be covered
with rubberoid roofing. for TWO res
sons: "a Poultry house roofs are nee
essarily flat, and shingles do not last
long on flat roofs. (2) There should
be no air leaks in the roof OF poui-
try house. Air leaks cannot pe avolo-
ed in single roofs. Rubperoid TOOL
ing is air tight
The combination plan OF pouitry
house is very practicable and has one
very special feature; In that It Is pos