HOUSING AND HYGIENE 2G3 



because shadows are thus largely avoided if wide angle 

 reflectors are used. The lights must he bright enough to 

 show fine grains in the straw. Lanterns and gasoline lanijis 

 have so far not proved highly satisfactory. 



Ease of Disinfection. — Because of the small size and 

 corresponding small economic value of the individual hen, 

 not much time can be spent in doctoring her if she becomes 

 sick, even if the knowledge of how to treat her is at one's 

 disposal. Yet many poultry diseases are highly contagious. 

 If they once gain entrance to the flock, nearly every bird is 

 likely to be aft'ected. The only satisfactory way to deal with 

 such epidemics is by taking every precaution for prevention. 



An essential of a good poultry-house, therefore, is ease of 

 cleaning and disinfection. All fixtures and appliances should 

 be movable, so that they may be easilj' cleaned and sprayed. 

 The general construction should be as tight as possible, so 

 that there will be a minimum of cracks and crevices. It is 

 in the cracks that the mites breed. The,y attack the hens 

 when on the nest or the perch and hide in any crack they can 

 find during the day. Such cracks as are unavoidable must 

 be easily reached. 



Size of the House. — The size of the chicken-house is 

 determined by the number of birds to be sheltered, the 

 amount of time they will be compelled to stay in the house 

 by unfavorable outside conditions, and by its portability or 

 permanence. The portable house will necessarily be of such 

 size that it can be hauled from one part of the farm to another 

 with the motive power available. The topography of the 

 farm will influence the size of the portable house somewhat, 

 as a very much larger house can be handled by a team where 

 the ground is level than where it is rough and broken. 



With regard to the amount of floor space recjuired per bird, 

 Dryden' estimates that "Where there is little or no snow, or 

 where chickens can be out of doors every day in the year, 

 about two square feet of floor space will be sufficient. This 

 would apply to flocks of twenty or more. For smaller flocks 

 a more liberal allowance of space should be made. Where the 



^ Oregon Extension Bulletin No. 2. 



