MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 85 



COMPARISON OF WARM vs. COLD HOUSES AS REGARDS EGG 



PRODUCTION. 



II. L. KEMPSTER. 



It was generally supposed that a poultry house should be warm, and 

 houses were constructed double-walled to keep the birds comfortable. 

 Whether this was necessary has been one of the problems we haye 

 endeavored to determine. ^N'ith this idea in mind, three experimental 

 houses were built, 14x24, large enough to accommodate 70 laying hens. 

 No. 1 was double- walled, having a four inch air space in walls and 

 ceiled above. No. 2 was double-walled on the north side, and east end. 

 No. 3 was single boarded. For two years comparison records were kept. 

 During the first year, November to April : 



1 2,850 eggs. 



2 3,128 " 



3 3.022 " 



This shows a production of 172 eggs in 3 over No. 1, and also a pro- 

 duction of 278 more eggs in 2 than in 1. It also shows a production of 

 106 more eggs in 2 than in 3. 



The second year, December to March : 



1 2.540 eggs. 



2 2,379 - 



3 2,334 " 



This shows a production of 206 more eggs in 1 than in 3 and also 

 a ju'oduction of 45 more eggs in 2 than in 3. It also shows a produc- 

 tion of 161 more eggs in 1 than in 2. 



For the two years : 



1 . 5,300 eggs. 



2 5.507 '' 



3 5,356 " 



The stock kejit was White Leghorn. 70 in each pen, and care w^as exer- 

 cised so that the quality was the same in each house. As a result of 

 the tAvo years test. No. 2, or the house double-walled on two sides, showed 

 a production of 151 eggs over No. 3 which was single walled, and also, 

 117 over No. 1 which was double-walled. No. 1 produced only 34 eggs 

 more than No. 3. There is not enough difference in the three houses to 

 permit the justification of a double-walled house. Beyond the supply 

 of comfort to the birds, additional expense in the way of double walls 

 is unnecessary. A poultry house should be dry, free from drafts, and 

 well lighted, and ventilated. When we have secured those conditions, 

 other factors must be taken into consideration when it comes to egg 

 production. 



E. Lansing, Mich., April 1910. 



