ESSENTIAL FEATURES 105 



that the closed, glass-front house was easily affected by changes of 

 outside temperature and moisture, unless some adequate system 

 of ventilation was provided. Such a house could not supply to 

 the birds the abundance of fresh air which they need without 

 causing a draft to blow directly upon them. 



It has been found that a house constructed on a plan entirely 

 opposite the one just described is more efficient. All up-to-date 

 poultry houses provide an abundance of fresh air during the night, 

 to keep the birds in the best physical condition. This is being 

 done almost entirely by the use of " muslin fronts." This feature 

 is regarded as essential and 



is prevalent throughout the vs^^ ] 



entire United States, from 

 Oregon to ]\Iaine (Fig. 65). 



The type of poultry house 

 selected should be adapted to 

 the sj^stem in use: (1) The 

 colony system requires, 

 under general conditions, a 

 house conforming to the size 



of the flock to be kept as a Fig. 65.- Modem tyoe of poultry house with 



unit and single-pen construe- ^"'^ muslin and glass in front, providing an 



. . . , abundance of hght and ventilation without drafts. 



tion, With or without scratch- 

 ing shed. (2) The semi-community system can be made most 

 profitable by using a double-pen scratching shed. (3) For the com- 

 munity system the long laying house, from 14 to 20 feet in depth, 

 and divided into pens of convenient size, is the type most employed. 



Before building or planning a house, the needs of the birds and 

 the means of attaining them should be studied carefully to deter- 

 mine just what tj^pe of construction will meet the conditions best. 

 The principles involved will hold true under all conditions. Some 

 variations must be made to suit extreme temperature or moisture 

 conditions. 



Essential Features. — The features of a good design may be 

 enumerated as follows: (1) Economy; (2) convenience; (3) sun- 

 light; (4) freedom from moisture; (5) abundance of ventilation; 

 (6) plenty of room; (7) protection from excessive heat or cold; 

 (8) proof against rats and mice; (9) .sanitation. 



Economy of Construction. — It is not always necessary to pur- 

 chase all new lumber for poultry houses. Often old farm buildings 

 or second-hand lumber can be utilized to good advantage. Only 



