efficient sanitation. Perfect dryness is essential, and since this is 

 largely controlled by ventilation, the best possible system should be 

 installed for that purpose. An abundance of light is also essential 

 to healthful conditions and abundant egg production. 



LOCATION. 



The commercial poultryman should consider the demands, prox- 

 imity to markets, and shipping facilities before going into further 

 detail. Unsuitable locations are the cause of much trouble in main- 

 taining healthful flocks and generally result in failure. This import- 

 ant feature should be considered from the standpoint of both the 

 commercial poultryman and the farmer. The poultry farm should 

 consist of a light soil such as a sandy loam, but not so sandy but 

 that it will produce an abundance of green food for forage. The 

 lighter, more friable soils can be plowed and cultivated more easily 

 than clays and at any time during the season. They also drain quickly 

 and dry and warm up early in the spring. Heavy clay soils are ob- 

 jectionable for the following reasons, viz. : The frequent long con- 

 tinued sticky muddy condition is disagreeable for the attendant, and 

 dirty eggs result from mud being carried into the nests on the chickens' 

 feet. It is more difficult to keep a heavy soil sweet and sanitary as 

 it dries out slowly, thus limiting the possibilities of cultivation and 

 reseeding, which is also restricted when the opposite conditions of 

 extreme dryness and baking occur. Fewer chickens can be kept on 

 the same area of clay as compared with sandy soil. Permanent sod 

 runs are undesirable as they soon become unsanitary. Frequent culti- 

 vation and reseeding with suitable forage crops tends to destroy 

 disease germs by exposure to the air, sunlight and frost, while the 

 droppings are utilized by the crops grown. 



An ideal location should have a slight slope to the south or south- 

 east, thus enabling it to dry and warm up quickly. If the soil is not 

 naturally well drained a tile drain system should be installed. It is 

 better to locate the houses at the top of an elevation, but if they have 

 to be placed on a slope, the ground should be graded so as to divert 

 the water that comes down from above. Good air drainage is essen- 

 tial; poultry houses should not be located in depressions, as damp, 

 cold air settles in such places. A mistake commonly made on the 

 farm consists in locating the poultry house too close to the other farm 

 buildings, which the hens are inclined to over run and inhabit, thus 

 becoming a nuisance. This would not occur if the houses are located 

 some distance from the other farm buildings and the feeding always 

 done there. 



In the selection of a site for the poultry plant, protection from 

 the prevailing winds should be secured, if possible, without sacrificing 

 the necessary amount of sunlight. 



The possibilities of future development and expansion should be 

 considered and provision made for the extension of the building sys- 

 tem as well as supplementary yardage or foraging ground. This is 

 more important to the commercial poultryman, whose operations are 

 more extensive than the farmer. The moving and remodeling of 

 buildings and fences to meet future demands should be avoided as far 

 as possible. 



