604 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



BUILDINGS, SHEDS AND YARDS FOR POULTRY. 



By W. J. Kennedy. Ames, Iowa, in Iowa State Register and Farmer. 



Poultry, like other classes of live stock on the farm, requires suitable 

 protection if we are to look for the greatest gains from our flock. The 

 many different forms of houses — to suit the fancier, specialist and farmer 

 ■where only a few fowls comparatively are kept — though differing some- 

 what in size, design, materials used, convenience and cost, must be in the 

 main constructed upon the same general principles if the greatest success 

 in the end is attained. Successful results have been achieved in, so many 

 different kinds of houses that it would be impossible in this article to 

 describe them, so we shall content ourselves with the outline of a few of 

 the principles that prevail in all well-managed poultry houses. 



In the first place, all are agreed that a poultry house should stand on 

 high, dry ground — preferably a gravelly or sandy knoll, as such locations 

 easily drain themselves. If such are not to be had, then the scraper 

 should be used to make a slightly elevated spot on which to build. If 

 advantage can be taken of a windbreak or a location behind other build- 

 ings, so as to protect it from the cold north and west winds, all the better. 



Successful poultry raising so far as housing is concerned makes the 

 following demands: That there be furnished a large amount of room, 

 light, warmth, pure air, dryness, freedom from draughts, roosts, nests, 

 comfort and cleanliness. The sheds, if such are provided, and the yards 

 should furnish ample space for exercise. 



Room. — Fowls should not be crowded nor Is it wise to keep them in 

 very large flocks — much success has been achieved where only 15 to 25 

 hens were kept in a bunch while success has attended also the bunching of 

 from 60 to 70. It is safer to deal in the smaller numbers, as one is less 

 apt to experience the losses that sometimes result from housing in the 

 larger flocks. If but one room is provided, each fowl should have from 

 10 to 15 square feet of floor space. If roosting and scratching pens are in 

 separate apartments each fowl should have 5 to 6 square feet of floor 

 space in the roosting pen and 10 to 12 in the scratching pen. Provide a 

 roosting space of 7 to 8 inches for the smaller Mediterranean fowls, such 

 as the Leghorns, 8 to 10 for Rocks and Wyandottes, and 10 to 12 for the 

 larger Asiatic breeds — the Brahmas and Cochins. In the yard in summer 

 from 100 to 150 square feet of grass should be allotted each fowl. 



Light.— Sunlight purifies the floors, roosts and drop boards and helps to 

 keep the fowls in a vigorous, healthy condition. In order to make provision 

 for a large admission of sunlight at least one-third of the south and east 

 sides should be glass. The windows, if placed high up, will allow the 

 winter sun to do its most effective work in shining into the remotest 

 corners of the house. In some cases windows are placed in the roof of 

 the scratching pens. 



Warmth. — The roosting apartment must be warm and comfortable for 

 the fowls while at rest. In order to make the roosting apartment warm 



