POULTRY HOUSES. 9 



draughts from some point to another point, cutting across 

 the birds in confined space, that do the mischief. 



In closed houses the best plan is to have free openings at 

 the highest point of the roof ; then if the only ingress be 

 the entrance, near the front of the house, and the perch be 

 at the back, there will be pretty good ventilation without 

 draught. Portable houses are often made now, with an 

 inch space at the eaves all round ; another good plan is 

 a "lantern" of slats arranged like Venetian blinds above 

 the highest point of the roof, or the angle of the wall under 



B 



Fig. 4. Semi-open House. 



the gable may be open except for a sheet of perforated zinc. 

 The hole will give sufficient air ; the point is to secure 

 ample egress of air for the number of birds. 



But, except in severe climates poultry do best not shut 

 in, but with free access of outer air. Major Morant advocated 

 this plan some years ago, and we have seen its good results, 

 poultry so housed showing very much less illness in winter 

 than others accommodated in the usual manner. His principle 

 is shown in Fig. 4, representing roughly a detached house, 

 including shed, meant to be placed about a farm or other 

 range. The back, A B, and ends, A c and B D, are closed ; 

 but the front, turned towards a sheltered or warm aspect, is 

 only closed from D to E, E c being wired in, with a hole for 



