CHAPTER XIX 



BEST TYPES OF POULTRY HOUSES 



MANY different types of poultry houses are to be found 

 on poultry farms in America. Poultry keepers, therefore, 

 should study the desirable features of these various types, 

 and at least attempt to devise more uniform and satisfactory 

 buildings for their birds. Types of construction differ be- 

 cause of diverse conditions. The size of the flock, the breed, 

 and the climate all affect the design of the poultry house. 



THE EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN POULTRY HOUSE 



Originally all birds roosted in trees. To-day many of 

 them show a preference for roosting in the open air. Espe- 

 cially is this true of young stock during the summer. When 

 man began to breed birds commercially, he constructed for 

 them simple shelters, which were merely roofs over their 

 heads. From this crude beginning the construction of poultry 

 houses has gone through successive stages of development 

 until, about thirty years ago, very expensive houses were 

 erected, many of them beautiful in design, and some arti- 

 ficially heated. The latter were apt to be poorly ventilated 

 and unsatisfactory. From the heated houses, poultry keepers 

 changed to a glass front house. This house was built to be 

 durable, the walls being usually double-boarded with paper 

 between. Such openings as were provided in the front of 

 the house were covered with glass sash. Automatic ventila- 

 tors were inserted in the roof, but often did not work as 

 they were expected to. These glass-front houses were found 

 to be very hot during the day and very cold at night, and 

 the birds did not thrive in them. 



Recent years have shown a sudden change from this 

 tight, warm house to the open front or muslin front house. 

 The first stage in its development was the elimination of 

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