MATERIALS FOR LAYING HOUSES 



111 



house, ranging from fourteen to twenty feet deep and from forty 

 to over one hundred feet long where large numbers are kept in one 

 flock. The last is the most economical unit where eggs are of 

 primary consideration (Fig. 68). 



Simplicity of Design. In planning and building poultry houses 

 it should be the idea to have the design and construction as simple 

 as possible. All extra trimming and ornamental features add 

 greatly to the cost and do not enhance the efficiency. Quality in 

 construction should also be considered, to make all permanent 

 buildings as durable as possible. Movable structures of small 



Larye Colony Jfoi/^e 



Colony JT 



FIG. 68. Three types of laying houses. The long house is used for small-unit flocks 

 with intensive methods for breeding purposes. The large colony house is for large flocks 

 for market eggs. The small colony house is used for breeding in small flocks. 



size should be built strong enough to stand the handling and mov- 

 ing to which they are subjected. In some sections it is the practice 

 to build extremely cheap houses directly on the ground; in such 

 cases the walls and posts rot and the building is not very long lived. 

 This practice cannot be generally recommended, but it may prove 

 practical where low-grade lumber can be secured at low prices. 



Materials for Laying Houses. Materials used for poultry 

 houses are: Wood, hollow tile, brick, concrete blocks, and solid 

 concrete. The first two are the only ones which prove good for 

 the laying house. Brick and concrete walls are apt to make the 

 interior of the house damp and cold in the winter. Roup has been 

 very prevalent where the walls were of- concrete. Concrete-block 



