HOUSES FOR LAYING HENS. 



A Description of tlie Equipment in Use at the Maine Ex= 



periment Station — The Good Qualities and Defects 



Brought to Light by Experiments — How a 



Satisfactory Building for Layers Was 



Finally Constructed. 



By Q. M. Gowell. 



Two styles of houses are in use at the Maine Station. 

 One is a thoroughly made double walled building, 16 x 150 

 feet in size. It is always kept above freezing by a water 

 heater and a flow and return two-inch pipe, running the 

 length of the building. This building was constructed 

 with especial reference to comfort, health and productive- 

 ness. Small, well made houses with single walls had for- 

 merly been in use, but they would get white with frost in 

 cold weather, if shut up close enough so the birds did not 

 suffer from cold during winter nights. When the weather 

 moderated, the white frost would change to water and the 

 straw litter on the floor would become damp and clammy. 

 The birds showed their dislike for the damp straw by keep- 

 ing off from it as much as they could. Such houses were 

 unsatisfactory, and so the large warmed house was built. 

 It was a decided improvement over the cold ones, because 

 it could be ventilated and the birds not suffer with the cold. 

 But it was not possible to secure sufficient ventilation, 

 even though the house was moderately warmed, to prevent 

 the presence of considerable moisture in the bedding. 



Good yields of eggs were obtained from hens kept in 

 that house and the losses of birds were not excessive. The . 

 hens showed, however, that they were not in the best con- 

 dition by a little lack of color in comb and energy in action. 

 This house has not been abandoned, but is not prized 

 for laying hens. Since breeding cockerels cannot be car- 



