656 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Nov., 1917. 



POULTRY AM) FRUIT. 



A Model Poultry House for the Farm. 



1.— INTRODUCTION. 



W. Gamble, Principal, Doolie Agricultural College. 



At the Agricultural Colleges under the control of the Council of Agri- 

 cultural Education one of the subjects upon which instruction is given is 

 Poultry Rearing and Management. Information regarding the prac- 

 tical work iu the rearing of fowls at the Dookie College will probably 

 be useful, not only to poultry breeders, but also to our agriculturists, 

 for at most country homes fowls are kept in great or small numbers. 

 Even the least observant cannot help noticing the absence of suitable 

 accommodation for poultry on the great majority of farms. UsTially 

 they have a free run amongst the buildings, stock, &c., nesting here and 

 there in odd corners and roosting in trees, or, perhaps, an old shed. 

 While such fowls, foraging for their feed and picking up much that 

 would be classed as waste, may be cheaply reared, there is no doubt 

 that they soon deteriorate, and the ultimate result is less productive birds 

 than those raised under better conditions. 



With the object of placing this adjunct of the farm on a better 

 footing, the college authorities, after consultation with Mr. Hart, of the 

 Agricultural Department, have laid out a model poultry run suit- 

 able for a farm of ordinary size. For this purpose, three-quarters of an 

 acre of land with an easterly aspect and a gentle slope was selected. The 

 house is situated on the high side, in the middle of the top side of the 

 block, thus the full three-quarters of an acre is available as a run. 

 To show that a fowl-run can be made to serve a dual purpose, the enclo- ■ 

 sure has been planted with assorted fruit trees, which, when they come 

 into bearing, will produce enough to meet the requirements of an 

 average household. In a sheltered nook there are several bee-hives, 

 which are kept with the utilitarian object of saipplying honey for the 

 house; but in addition the bees perform useful work in the pollination 

 of the fruit-tree blossoms. 



When designing the model, cheajjiiess as well as efficiency was kept 

 in mind, the enclosure being fenced with secondhand wire-netting, and 

 the posts cut from timber in the bush paddocks. 



2.— THE BUILDING. 



By W. Adams, Building Instructor. 



The skillion, or lean-to house, was selected because of its simplicity. 

 There is nothing complicated in its roof or fittings, and probabh' no 

 design would give more satisfaction to the farmer or small holder. 



In selecting a site for a fowl-house, it is always desirable to choose 

 an elevated position, in order to insure good drainage. The buildmg 

 should be well up from the ground, and the use of redgum slabs round 

 the base is recommended, so as to allow filling up inside with gravel or 

 soil, and to confine the litter necessary for scratching purposes. 



Herewith are specifications for four 10 ft. x 10 ft. pens, with skillion 

 roof and walls 7 ft. x 6 ft. WhUe certain timbers, &c., are mentioned, 



