

FARM POULTRY HOUSES 



BY J. B. DAVIDSON AND WM. A. LIPPINCOTT. 



ESSENTIALS OF A SUCCESSFUL HOUSE. 



Good growth of poultry and heavy egg production depend 

 to a large extent upon the proper housing of the stock. This 

 bulletin sets forth the essentials of a good house for Iowa in 

 brief form and then offers working plans of three houses that 

 embody these essentials. 



LOCATION. 



The first consideration in building a poultry house is its lo- 

 cation. It is of greatest importance to select a site having well- 

 drained soil as will be explained later. It is next important to 

 have a convenient location. The poultry house may be nearer 

 the residence than the live stock barns and as women have a 

 large share in the management of the flock on the average 

 farm, it should be so located. It is undesirable to build the 

 poultry house near granaries, cribs, or barns which may fur- 

 nish a harbor for rats and other vermin which prey on poul- 

 try. A sunny location well sheltered from the north winds is 

 highly desirable whenever it is possible to obtain it without 

 sacrificing good ground drainage. 



DRYNESS. 



The first essential of the house itself is that it be dry. There 

 is no condition, unless it be actual starvation, that will be more 

 surely and quickly fatal to fertility and egg production than 

 dampness in the hen house. It is likely to cause an outbreak of 

 disease as well. 



To secure a dry hen house it is necessary first of all to select 

 a dry location. A gentle slope to the south with good air 

 drainage and a porous soil is the ideal building spot. The 

 ground immediately surrounding will then drain quickly and 

 the yards will be dry and warm. Where yards are damp, 

 evaporation is constantly going on. Evaporation is a cooling 

 process ; so damp yards give the hens cold and dirty feet. Cold 

 feet will lessen egg production ; dirty feet will make dirty nests 

 and eggs, and dirty eggs bring poor prices. 



Often it is not possible to have an ideal location and then 

 extra precaution must be taken. If the best site available is 

 inclined to hold moisture, the moisture must be kept from get- 

 ting into the house. Placing a 3 inch tile even with the bot- 



