POULTRY KEEPING 589 



The straw loft is made by leaving spaces of one-inch or more 

 between the ceiling boards which are covered with a foot or so of 

 loose straw. Both ends of the loft should have openings, the one on 

 the windward side being kept closed during cold weather while the 

 other should remain open. This method of ventilation has a double 

 advantage in that it not only affords an abundance of fresh air, but 

 the straw takes up the moisture readily, thus rendering the house 

 dry and producing a satisfactory system of ventilation. In addition 

 the house with a straw loft is very desirable during hot weather, the 

 temperature being influenced less by the heat from the sun. 



Muslin is being used, in part, in place of glass windows to 

 secure fresh air and is exceedingly popular because of its economical 

 features. Houses with one square foot of muslin and one square foot 

 of glass to every eighteen square feet of floor space are common, the 

 amount varying from one foot of muslin to twenty feet of floor space 

 in a house ten feet wide to one foot of muslin to ten square feet of 

 floor space, in a house twenty feet wide. Some poultrymen are build- 

 ing houses with all the windows covered with muslin and where this 

 is done double the amount of muslin previously mentioned should be 

 used. A combination of glass and muslin is preferred and is satis- 

 factory if properly used. The house should be aired out each day 

 more than the muslin permits, for as soon as the cloth becomes damp 

 it will not allow the air to pass back and forth thus rendering the 

 ventilation imperfect. Should the walls and ceiling become damp 

 insufficient ventilation is being used or the house is not suffi- 

 ciently aired out during the day. Any odors in the house indi- 

 cate deficient ventilation and more fresh air should be admitted. 

 Fresh air is essential to insure a healthy flock, but in supplying it 

 one must not overlook the danger of drafts. Drafts can be avoided to 

 some extent by placing all openings on the side of the house opposite 

 that of the prevailing winds. Frames can be hinged at the top or 

 side or made to slide up and down as part of the window, in any con- 

 venient manner to suit the individual requirements. A moderate 

 sized frame also permits more efficient control of ventilation as one 

 often finds that with large curtains the air is too close, if kept closed, 

 but if kept open the quarters are uncomfortable. In building any 

 poultry house its summer use should also be considered and provision 

 be made for openings in the back so as to afford a free air circulation. 



Fresh Air House. This style has recently come into promi- 

 nence. It is built with the low side, not over 4 feet high, to the south, 

 and the high side to the north, the south side being covered with a 

 wire screen. The open front works most advantageously on a house 

 16x20 feet wide although it can be used on a narrower house, pro- 

 viding the amount of open space is reduced. About 1 square foot 

 of open front is used to every 6 to 10 square feet of floor space. 



As the south side is low it is necessary to insert extra windows 

 which are usually placed in the west end. These can be removed 

 during the summer thus affording free movement of air and counter- 

 acting some of the objectionable features of the extra amount of heat 

 resulting from having the long slope of the roof to the south instend 



