46 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



into the cold air unprotected in this way. But in addition 

 to this there is a very grave objection to the burning of oil or 

 gas in a house, as they vitiate the atmosphere greatly, and 

 the birds having to breath air charged with impurities, must 

 be injured thereby. This injury may not declare itself at 

 once, but will do so sooner or later. 



In addition to the methods of heating already mentioned, 

 which are more used for isolated houses than those in blocks, 

 hot water pipes have been employed, but though these are 

 much better than stoves of any kind, it is only a question of 

 degree, and the use of them is to be equally condemned. 

 We do not say that a gentle artificial heat is not beneficial, 

 if it come from outside the house, and, for this reason, we 

 recommended in a previous chapter that, where possible, the 

 house should be built adjoining " a stable, a cow-shed, a 

 green-house, an engine-shed, or even a dwelling," but this 

 is altogether different to placing a stove inside a house, as 

 the heat is then evenly diffused all over the house, without in 

 the slightest degree vitiating the atmosphere. Even in such 

 a place as this, care must be taken to keep the temperature 

 from rising very high, and the ventilation requires to be well 

 looked after. 



It is often found convenient, where large numbers of fowls 

 are kept, to have the buildings in large blocks, and when this 

 is so artificial heat may be introduced without much danger, 

 especially if there is a centre compartment into which all 

 the others open. Here a fire-stove can be placed, and if 

 the ventilation is so arranged that the fresh air can be 

 supplied through this compartment, then the fowls will get 

 warmth without danger of any great excess of it. But we 

 may as well say at once, that, in a well built and properly 

 ventilated house, there is no need of any artificial heat what 

 ever, and even though the eggs are not quite so numerous 

 as might be the case were it employed, the prevention of 



