426 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING 



Small birds require less space, and the wider the range the 

 less the space required. More space is needed if close con- 

 finement is necessary on account of the weather; and if the 

 flock is large each individual bird will have more freedom, 



Door 



H 



pi-Set O4o,| H 



RL_AN 



Fig. 271. Plan of an A-shaped colony poultry house. (la. Exp. 

 Sta. Bui. 132.) 



requiring less space per fowl. In some instances the floor 

 space per fowl has been reduced to 2^ square feet. 



It is a good rule to allow at least one cubic foot for each 

 pound of live weight, or from 5 to 20 cubic feet per fowl. If 

 enough height be provided for convenience in caring for the 

 fowls, there will be plenty of volume. 



The Foundation. Poultry houses are of light con- 

 struction and do not need elaborate or expensive founda- 

 tions. Colony houses are built upon skids. It is well that 

 the foundation of the nonportable houses be so constructed 

 as to exclude rats. If clay blocks or other masonry con- 

 struction be used, the foundation should extend below the 

 frost line, to overcome the damage which might be done by 



