28 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



were near the closed back of the houses, the 

 nests b b next the corridor, where they could be 

 reached through a flap-door. The training-pens 

 dd, for specimens to be exhibited, were nearly 

 three feet square, and we provided for them by 

 running back a floor from the top of the yard- 

 high boarding in the corridor ; thus the floor of 

 these pens was three feet above the ground, at 

 the backs of some of the sheds B B. Each row 

 of pens was well boarded up behind, with wire 

 fronts ; thus they faced us on each side of the 

 corridor, at a height of three feet, and occupied 

 no extra room at all. Everything except mixing 

 of the food, and the very young chickens, which 

 had a separate yard, was thus collected under 

 one tiled roof; as these also might be if desired 

 Ventilation was free and perfect, and we never 

 remember a case of roup or catarrh in the place. 

 In a very cold locality, however, it would be 

 necessary to have a ceiled or close roof, with 

 definite ventilators, to stop radiation of heat. 

 Any corridor house can also be easily heated 

 if required ; and heating will be less injurious 

 in a house of this kind than in any other. 



Of the many large establishments for 

 poultry culture which exist in America, it 

 will be of most interest and value 

 to notice certain features of con- 

 struction which are, in one form or 

 another, typical and general, be- 

 cause of their relation to climatic differences, 

 and especially to the necessity for keeping the 

 fowls shut up under cover for months together 

 during the winter, and to the intense cold. 

 Fifty years ago the few who kept any number 

 usually confined them in very large houses, or 

 barns, which gave the requisite space. This 

 was found too cold to promote winter laying. 



Scratching- 

 sheds in 

 America. 



however, and by degrees there spread the system 

 of a separate shed by the side or in front of the 

 roosting house, as is so common in England. 

 But while with us the shed was chiefly necessary 



Fig. 12. — Portable Scratching-shed House. 



for merely temporary shelter, in America it had 

 to give exercise during entire confinement for 

 protection from the weather. Hence it is 

 termed a " scratching-shed," and under that 

 name is becoming almost universal in good 

 poultry plants. In order to use as much as 

 possible of the short and precious winter sun, 

 American scratching-shed houses, or ranges of 

 houses, almost invariably face the south, and 

 are highest in front, sloping to the back, so that 

 the sun may shine in. Besides the wire front 

 which confines the birds, it is usual to pro- 

 vide movable fronts of thin canvas, oiled or 

 not, which are kept over the fronts during wet 

 or snow, and drawn up during dry weather ; 

 these admit ample light, but keep the shed dry. 

 In localities where the climate is very severe some 

 have the front closed by wood and glass, which 

 can be raised in summer so as to be quite open. 



Fig. 13. — Scratching-shed Houses of Mr. A. F. Hunter. 



