INCUBATOR AND BROODING HOUSES 



23— SECTION OF BROODER HOUSE SHOWING SOUTH SIDE OF ALLEYWAY 



the pens except on rare occasions, so this is not a serious 

 draw back. 



The site selected for this house is a knoll sloping slightly 

 to the north and abruptly to the east. The alley was fonned 

 by digging a trench of the required depth along the north side 

 of the site of the proposed structure. Parallel stone walls 4 

 feet apart were then laid in this trench and carried to a height 

 of 3 feet 6 inches. These were joined by a wall of the same 

 height at the west end, the east end being reserved as a doorway. 

 When laying the wall on the south side of the alley, provision 

 was made for three lamp pits, each 2 feet 6 inches by 5 feet 

 and 1 foot in depth, as indicated upon the plans. Each pit ac- 

 commodates the heaters of two brooders. 



The rest of the foundation is a simple wall varying in height 

 according to the slope of the land, but carried to the same level 

 as the alley wall. Finally the entire floor was cemented, in- 

 cluding the bottoms of the lamp pits, the cement in the chick 

 pens being at the level of the top of the foundation walls. 



Because of the small size of the building, the 

 frame is constructed entirely of 2 by 4 inch mate- 

 rial, except the siUs, which are 4 by 4 inches. 

 The walls are 3 feet 6 inches in height. The roof 

 is an even span, with a rise of 2 feet. The 

 rafters are tied with collar beams which are spiked 

 on level 7 feet 6 inches from the alley floor. The 

 entire frame is covered with J-inch matched boards, 

 with one-ply Flintkote upon the roof and an extra 

 heavy felt upon the sides. This gives an absolute- 

 ly wind-proof structure. Eaves-troughs are requii^ 

 ed to carry from the roof the water which might otherwise 

 make its way into the building. 



The interior is lathed and plastered with fire proof asbestos 

 plaster. By carrying the plaster across on the collar beams an 

 attic is fonned which is of great value in controlling the tempera- 

 ture, preventing direct radiation through the roof. A large 

 sUding ventilator opens into this attic through the ceiUng above 

 each pair of chick pens, and in each gable doors are placed, open- 

 ing into the attic from outside. These are regulated according 

 to the weather. This forms a decidedly effective ventilating 

 system which is entirely under control. 



In the south side of the building are six windows, one for 

 each pen, each a single sash with six panes of 10 by 12 inch glass. 



These windows are hinged at the bottom and 

 swing inward, being controlled from the alley 

 by cords. At the west end of the alley another 

 window of the same size is placed. This lights 

 the alley thoroughly, which is very desirable, par- 

 ticularly on dark, winter days. Chick doors are 

 6 by 7 inches in size, and are also operated by 

 cords. The construction of pen partitions is 

 so fully illustrated by the cuts that no further 

 explanation seems necessary. The door is 



made nearly as wide as the alley to permit the 

 easy passage of wheelbarrows for cleaning. 



The brooders were constructed by the col- 

 lege carpenter. They consist simply of the 

 heaters and hovers mounted upon platforms, 

 no sides or top being required. Because the heaters are 

 suspended in the lamp pits, the floors of the brooders are 

 elevated but 2 inches above the floors of the pens, which enables 

 the chicks to enter the hovers without climbing the usual bridge. 

 The pen floors are kept covered with 1 inch of sand and more 

 or less fine htter, such as chaff, cut straw, etc. In ordinary 

 weather the six lamps maintain the temperature sufficiently 

 high, but an auxiliary heater is supplied for use in extreme cold. 

 This is a stove placed near the west end of the alley, and a small 

 fire in it will keep the building sufficiently warm at any time. 

 For the needs of the practical farmer or poultryman some 

 slight change might be made in the above plan. The alley 

 could be reduced to 3 feet in width, and still be large enough 

 to accommodate one attendant. The length of the chick pens 

 might be reduced 1 or 2 feet, thus making the building narrow- 



as— west ELEVATION OF BROODER HOUSE 



er. The depth of the alley might be made 3 feet instead of 3 

 feet 6 inches, and the sides made of heavy plank instead of 

 masonry. The cement floor could be replaced with an earth 

 floor, provided rats could be repelled. The entry extension 

 could be dispensed with. For ordinary uses in southern New 

 England the wall might be satisfactory if constructed of two 

 thicknesses of inch boards with paper between. AU of the above 

 changes would result in a financial saving so far as the first cost 

 of the building is concerned, but, excepting the reduction in 

 width of alley, they would also cause a decreased efficiency. 



Not infrequently poultrymen have attempted to secure the 

 benefits to be gained from an elevated chick floor in the brooder 

 house by constructing board floors at various heights. In some 

 instances the brooders have been set upon tables 

 and passage ways left open at each side of the build- 

 ing, one permitting the attendant to care for the 

 lamp, clean the brooder, etc., and the other to feed 

 and water the chicks in the pens. Such arrange- 

 ments have proved to be quite satisfactory, but are 

 expensive and have one very decided disadvantage, 

 namely, it is impossible to give the chicks an outside 

 run unless they are compelled to climb to an eleva- 

 tion of 2 or 3 feet when returning to the brooder. 

 Every experienced poultryman will understand how 



24— SOUTH ELEVATION OF BROODER HOUSE 



33 



