10 Diseases of Poultry 



of the basic things in the housing of poultry. It would be 

 strange if something had not come out of all the indignities 

 to which innocent and inoffensive generations of fowls have 

 been submitted in the way of dwelling accommodations. It 

 is now clearly recognized, and generally admitted by all 

 competent poultrymen, that certain things are absolutely 

 essential in any poultry house which is to give good results. 

 These are (1) fresh air, (2) freedom from dampness, (3) 

 freedom from draughts, (4) sunlight and (5) cleanliness. 



If these five things are realized in a poultry house the birds 

 will thrive and be productive in it, provided they are well 

 and regularly fed and watered. It makes no difference 

 particularly to the well-being of the birds how these neces- 

 sary specifications of their dwelling are attained. To the 

 poultryman, however, it is important that they be attained 

 at the smallest expense, having regard to (a) initial cost, 

 (6) repairs and up-keep and (c) labor necessary to operate 

 the house to get the specified results. The housing prob- 

 lem is to the poultryman, then, both a biological and an 

 economic one. The biological solution is definite. The 

 requisites named above must be met, and there is one addi- 

 tional factor to be taken into account ; namely, size of house. 

 Experiments made at various times and places indicate 

 clearly that in northern climates, where birds must be shut 

 up in the house during a part of the year in order to give 

 best results, there should be allowed in the house at least 

 three square feet of floor space per bird, and preferably a 

 little more. Four square feet floor space per bird is a liberal 

 allowance. 



A factor which it was formerly thought necessary to con- 

 trol in the housing of poultry was the temperature. It was 

 long held that if fowls were to lay well in the winter it was 

 necessary that they should be in a heated house. Later 

 experience has shown conclusively that this was an utterly 



