LECTURE LXXXVIII. 



BUILDINGS, SHEDS AND YARDS SUITABLE FOR 

 POULTRY. 



Poultry, like other classes of live stock on the farm, require 

 suitable protection if we are to look for the greatest gains 

 from our flock. The different forms of houses to suit the 

 fancier, specialist and farmer where only a few fowls com- 

 partively are kept though differing somewhat in size, design, 

 materials used, conveniences 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 lecture to describe them, so we shall con- 

 tent ourselves with the outline of a few of the principles that 

 prevail in all well managed poultry houses. 



In the first place, we 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, free- 

 dom 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 



