LIVE-STOCK AND DAIRYING. 367 



ern exposure, as the birds prefer the morning sun, and 

 to keep the house warm and dry. 



The fowls are housed principally to protect them 

 from the cold winds and storms, so as to keep up the 

 egg production. Exceedingly warm houses are not 

 necessary for poultry as has been proved by experi- 

 ments. The house should be built to maintain as even 

 a temperature as possible during night and day. The 

 double walled houses are hard to keep dry or warm 

 without the aid of artificial heat, which is not always 

 satisfactory. The temperature in houses built mostly 

 of glass is difficult to regulate, because it is so much 

 colder during the night than in the day. 



Requirements. The building should be large 

 enough to accommodate the number of fowls on the 

 farm. It is generally conceded that not more than 

 forty fowls should be kept together, and 4^ to 5 

 square feet of floor space should be allowed per bird. 

 For smaller flocks more floor space per bird will be 

 required. In sections where severe weather is encoun- 

 tered only occasionally, and the birds are not continu- 

 ally housed, about two to three square feet of floor 

 space may be assigned per bird. Birds should not be 

 crowded, for it will interfere with their exercise. The 

 building should be high enough to permit the entrance 

 of attendants. 



Windows. The windows should be placed high so 

 that the winter sunlight will reach every part of the 

 house. Wide buildings or low windows prevent the 

 sunlight from reaching the rear parts, and often cause 

 dampness which is very objectionable in a poultry 

 house. For sixteen feet of floor space one square 

 foot of glass should be allowed. 



Floor. It should be the aim of every poultryman 

 to keep the floor perfectly dry. Wood, earth or 

 cement are used for floors. Cement makes the best 

 floor. Every farmer can afford such a floor, as it can 

 be made with farm labor and at little cost. Cement 

 floors have many advantages. They are readily 



