No. 4.] POULTRY AND EGG PRODUCTION. 25 



VI. Provide a Suitable Environment. 



The design of a poultry house and of its construction deter- 

 mines in large measure the environmental conditions which 

 will surround the bird. The modern poultry house must pro- 

 vide all the features necessary to create ideal conditions, for 

 no matter how well a flock of birds may be bred, if the poul- 

 try house is damp, drafty, cool and poorly lighted, disease 

 and a decrease in vigor will surely result. 



The following are the principles governing the design and 

 construction of a suitable poultry house: — 



(a) Dryness is fundamental in the poultry house. 



(b) Plenty of sunlight needed. 



(c) Importance of thorough ventilation. 



(d) Give the birds plenty of floor space. 



(e) Birds must be protected from an excessive cold temperature. 



(/) The construction of the house must be rat proof and vermin proof. 

 (g) Economy in construction is a first-hand consideration in designing 

 and building the laying house. 



With these few words as to the principles of design, the fol- 

 lowing discussion of the New Jersey multiple unit laying house 

 will give the details necessary to construct an efficient house 

 possessing the features above mentioned. 



The Neio Jersey Multi'ple Unit Laying House. 



The following plan of a shed-roof house, 20 by 40 feet, is 

 especially suited to New Jersey poultry farms. Where it is 

 desirable to keep larger units than a 40-foot house will accom- 

 modate, it is recommended that the length be doubled, mak- 

 ing it 20 by 80, with three cross partitions (one every 20 feet), 

 instead of only one, as in the 40-foot house. 



The following description of the above plan shows the im- 

 portant features : — 



The outside dimensions are 20 by 40 feet, sills to be 4 by 6, 

 and to be bolted to a concrete foundation wall 8 inches wide, 

 which is laid on tamped cinder or crushed stone, the entire 

 depth of the foundation trench being 3 feet. 



The shed-roof type of construction is used with 9-foot stud- 

 ding in front and 4|-foot studding in back. All studding and 



