CHAP. III. PORTABLE POULTRY HOUSES. 



shed, or at any rate, as a cover fur the fuwls. We do not think that 

 it would he desirable in a small house to have one side entirely open, 

 because under those circumstances the birds would be too much exposed. 

 In connection with the College Poultry Farm, Theale, a range of 

 houses has been erected, which embody the latest experience in this 

 direction. These houses are built separately, and are of a substantial 

 character, but erected in sections so that they can be removed if 

 necessary. Each house is 10 ft. square, 7 ft. in height at the front, 

 falling to 5 ft. 6 in. at the back. They are solid back and ends, and 

 have a substantial roof, which is made of thin match boarding, covered 

 with felt and corrugated iron on top. The front of the house is 

 composed almost entirely of wire netting, which is kept uncovered all 

 the time. The only exception is that we have a curtain of coarse canvas 

 inside, which can be let down in wet or snowy weather. The result is 

 that the birds have a plentiful supply of fresh air, although they are 

 effectively sheltered against extreme cold and driving rain, but can in 



Fig. 170. Cottager's Poultry-house. 



no sense be subjected to a lack of oxygen, which is apparently the result 

 of keeping them in the ordinary form of smaller poultry-house. The 

 lower 2 ft. of the front is boarded, although that makes no difference to 

 the principle, and in this are placed food troughs, hinged, so that the 

 birds can be fed either inside or outside. There is a shutter on the 

 higher part of the front, simply for the purpose of preventing rain 

 driving inside. The internal arrangements are that at the back is a 

 laying compartment, o ft. square, into which the birds enter by a small 

 trap, and, of course, there is a larger door. The object of this is that 

 if we were wishful to what is called trap-nest the birds, that is, test 

 individual laying, arrangements can be made for that purpose. The 

 perches are placed at the back of the house between the end of one wall 

 and the side of the laying compartment. Thus the fowls roosting upon 

 the perches, of which there are two, are not within 6 ft. of the front 

 of the house. There is a door for entrance at one side, and also in front. 

 The above form of house is capable of accommodating anything up to 

 twenty birds, and is designed for the purpose of ensuring the health of 



