39 



fouud iu all classes of fowls Init those having very small combs, that I 

 believe is a sure index of lack of vitality. This is the undeveloped 

 comb that goes with a peaked-looking head on a poorly developed bird. 

 It is small to medium in size, and shrivelled in appearance. The small 

 comb that still appears to be fully developed is the ideal comb for the 

 fowls of the practical poultryman ; and if he breeds for such combs on 

 his fowls and for general hardiness, he will soon have stock of which 

 both males and females are adapted to the cold house in practice. 



I have gone thus at length into this matter of size of comb, because 

 the fact that in a cold house in this climate the temperature will go 

 lower than is safe for most large-combed males is the one serious objec- 

 tion to cold houses. The other objections cannot be maintained against 

 a test, but the cold house is not a house for a male with an easily-frosted 

 comb. 



The characteristic feature of the cold, thoroughly ventilated poultry 

 house is not so much in the method of construction as in operation. By 

 opening doors and windows, any house can be made a cold poultry 

 house. A good many houses built for warmth are now being used as 

 cold houses. If the owners had to build over again, they would build 

 less expensively ; for there is no need of making special efforts to have 

 a building very warm, when the windows are to be always open. 



The cold poultry house may be of almost any design or style desired, 

 except that ventilation should be from the front of the house and the 

 roosts at the rear; for the philosophy of cold housing is not to expose 

 the fowls as much as possible, but to strike the degree of protection 

 which is sufficient for the fowls and least trouble to the keeper. 



With this article I give the plans of the houses I have described 

 These are houses that suit me for flocks of the numbers kept in each, 

 and houses well adapted to farm poultry keeping. The small house, if 

 made with close-fitting joints on the back and half way forward on the 

 sides, is warm enough for the breed I keep, or for hens of the American 

 breeds, Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds. The 

 larger house, unless in a very sheltered location, is better to l)e tight 

 everywhere but in front, for it is a higher house, and the heat from the 

 hens makes less impression in it. In the small house the heat from a 

 dozen large hens has a very perceptible effect on the temperature, even 

 in zero weathei\ 



In conclusion, let me briefly enumerate the advantages of cold 

 houses : — 



1. Economy of construction. 



2. Economy of time and relief from close attention to ventilation. 



3. Healthier fowls. 



The foregoing are the positive advantages. As to results, we may 

 say : — 



1. That, as a rule, the production of eggs will not be as good as in 

 w^arm houses that are carefully operated, l)ut will be better than in warm 

 houses as commonly operated. 



2. That, whether the difference in egg production in a warm house 

 can be made enough greater to pay for the better attention and the 



