Maine; agricultural experiaient station. 65 



misceei/aneous. 



2 storm windows, 12 lights 10 by 12 inch. 

 6 squares building paper. 

 10 feet 42 inch poultry netting. 

 14S feet 42 inch lo-ounce duck. 



ADVANTAGES OE CURTAIN FRONT HOUSES. 



The "Pioneer House" was in use for 5 years with 60 pullets 

 in it each year. No. 2 house has been in use 9 years and the 

 No. 3 house 8 years. No. 2 and No. 3 houses have proven en- 

 tirely satisfactory, especially No. 3. This is the type of house 

 described in the present bulletin which the Station after 8 years 

 experience feels warranted in recommending. Some years ago 

 the experiment was tried of building a house on the same geji- 

 eral plan as that of No. 3 but making it 20 ft. wide instead of 

 16 ft. wide with the pens 20 ft. long. This house was given a 

 trial for a number of years on a private plant in Orono, but 

 from all that can be learned the house was never so satisfactory 

 as the 16 ft. house at the Station, and has finally been aban- 

 doned. 



Maine is subject to long spells of severe cold weather, with 

 the temperature considerably below zero at night, and about 

 zero during the day, and with a good deal of high wind. Dur- 

 ing such rough weather the bedding on the floor has kept com- 

 paratively dry. The yields of eggs during severe weather and 

 immediately following it are rarely below those immediately 

 preceding it. It should be borne in mind that had the weather 

 been mild all that time the hens probably would have in- 

 creased in production rather than remained stationary. They 

 are doubtless afTected by the severe weather, but not seriously, 

 as they uniformity begin to increase in production very soon 

 after the weather becomes normal for midwinter. 



These curtain front houses have all proved eminently satisfac- 

 tory. The egg yields per bird have been better in these houses 

 than in warmed ones. The purpose of having rooms and flocks 

 of different sizes was to compare the welfare and egg yields of 

 the birds under the difi^erent conditions. 



