108 PRINCIPLES OF POULTRY-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION 



Soil moisture has a tendency to work under the foundation 

 and up through the floor, dampening the litter. This should be 

 corrected by the construction of proper drains under the foundation 

 when the house is built. A properly constructed concrete floor 

 will keep out much soil moisture, as it is impervious to water. This 

 is made with a layer of tar paper or tar paint beneath the finish 

 coat of cement. 



Ventilation. The house should be well ventilated, without 

 causing drafts to blow directly on the birds. An abundance of 

 oxygen is essential if the birds are to perform their normal body 

 functions. When a large number are continually crowded to- 

 gether in close quarters during the entire winter, as is the case in 

 most commercial laying houses, a large amount of fresh air is 

 required. This can best be supplied by the use of muslin curtains 

 in the front of the house, thus allowing at all times fresh air to 

 pass in, and the moist, foul air to pass out. This change takes place 

 without any drafts or rapid movements of air, the muslin acting 

 as a sieve or buffer. In extremely cold sections, with birds not 

 naturally suited to stand extremely low temperature, it is advis- 

 able to have a second muslin curtain suspended in front of the 

 roosting quarters to conserve the heat given off by their bodies at 

 night. 



In the coldest climates special air shafts on the plan of King 

 ventilators are sometimes used successfully instead of muslin cur- 

 tains, or in combination with them. The out-take shaft is most 

 essential. It may consist of a six-inch galvanized stove-pipe ex- 

 tending from near the floor up through the highest point of the 

 roof and projecting two feet or more above it. This pipe will be 

 large enough for fifty fowls, and will take out the bad air and mois- 

 ture if fresh air is allowed to enter through an in-take pipe or a 

 small muslin curtain. 



A properly ventilated house will mean healthy birds, and less 

 labor will be needed in keeping the house clean (Fig. 67). 



Plenty of Room for Exercise. Exercise is essential for the health 

 of the birds, and to keep them from taking on too much surplus 

 fat, which would be detrimental to heavy egg production. This 

 latter purpose is important with the heavier breeds during the 

 second and third year. Exercise can best be provided by the 

 feeding of grain rations in deep litter on the floor. 



The number of birds which can safely be kept in a house of 

 given dimensions will depend somewhat upon the breed and upon 



