DIVISION OF POULTRY 



957 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



A few experiments have been conducted and are being reported on this year. It 

 would be well to note, however, that this investigational work has been in operation 

 but the one year since the reorganization of the Division, during which time new 

 buildings and temporary quarters have interfered to no little extent with thisi work, 

 and it may be possible in the light of future experiments that the ultimate findings 

 in some of these may vary. 



COTTON-FEONT HOUSES. 



That the so-called cotton-front house has demonstrated its usefulness even in 

 cold climates is becoming the experience of many practical poultrymen. 



The cotton front house, built in 1907, was the first of this type that was constructed 

 on this Farm. Since that time the reports of this Division have all contained more 

 or less information on temperature, egg yield, fertility, and healthy condition of the 

 stock housed under these conditions; but it has always been a matter of conjecture 

 as to the correct area of cotton or the proper proportion of cotton and glass necessary 

 to give the maximum temperature with minimum range and good ventilation. 



''I have 'lots' of cotton on my poultry house but still moisture accumulates on 

 the inside and the litter on the floor soon becomes damp " is the complaint of numerous 

 correspondents and visitors seeking advice from this Division, but the cotton ai-ea 

 allowed per bird and cubic air space is never mentioned. 



The table of temperatures, floor space, cubic air space per bird, etc., given below 

 is not shown as a decision on any particular house, but to point out that all of 

 these factors have an influence in determining the suitability of any house. 



Table No. 2. — Showing the maximum and minimum; also range and average tem- 

 perature in poultry houses having various proportions of cotton and glass. 



Note. — ^Pens Nos. 16, 17 and 19 are permanent, the remainder are portable colony 

 houses. Pens Nos. 16 and 17 were the east and west halves of a Tolman style 

 house. Pen No. 23 had a straw loft and the glass window was replaced* by a cot- 

 ton screen at night. 



DEDUCTIONS. 



It will be seen from the above that pens 16 and 17, which are two divisions of 

 one house, are considerably warmer than any of the other houses, and this in spite 

 of the fact that the space allowed in these two is over twice that allowed per bird in 



16—62 



Ottawa. 



