U.S.DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



574 



Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry, A. D. Melvin, Chief. 

 April 7, 1914. 



POULTRY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION. 



By ALFRED R. LEE, 



Junior Animal Husbandman in Poultry Investigations, Animal Husbandry Division. 



POULTRY HOUSES AND FIXTURES. 



Tliis article explains the essential principles of poultry-house 

 construction, showing pictures of houses and fixtures which have 

 given satisfaction in various sections of the country, with their plans 

 and specifications; and contains hints on construction which will 

 assist the poultryman in planning and erecting his buildings. 



ESSENTIALS IN POULTRY HOUSES. 



The prime essentials in poultry houses are fresh air, dryness, sun- 

 light, and space enough to keep the birds comfortable. No particular 

 style of house is peculiarly adapted to any section of this country. A 

 house which gives satisfaction in Maine will also give good results in 

 Texas or California, but it is preferable to build more open and con- 

 sequently less expensive houses in the South than in the North. The 

 best site for the poultry house depends principally on the local con- 

 ditions. The location should have good water and air drainage, so 

 that the floor and yards will be dry, while the house should not occupy 

 a low pocket or hollow in which cold air settles, and it should be 

 situated for convenience in management and adapted to the available 

 land. Wherever possible a southern or southeastern exposure should 

 be selected, although this is not essential if there is any good reason 

 for facing the house in a different direction. 



Poultry can be raised successfully on any well-drained soil. A 

 light loam, which will grow good grass, is well adapted for this purpose; 

 while a very light, sandy soil, through which the water leaches freely, 

 will stand more intensive poultry conditions, but most of the green 

 feed for the fowls kept on such a soil will have to be purchased. A 

 heavy clay or adobe soil is not as well adapted to poultry raising, as 

 such land does not drain readily and it is much more difficult to keep 

 the stock healthy. Long stationary houses, or the intensive system, 



NOTE. This bulletin gives practical instruction for locating and constructing poultry houses. It is 

 adapted for general circulation. 



28438 Bull. 57414 1 



