FOREWORD 



HIS BOOK was written, and the illustrations made, 



for the purpose of supplying an ever increasing 



demand for plans and building instructions of the 



best and most jDractical modern open-front open-air, 



or "fresh-air poultry houses." 



The fresh-air or open-air idea is not wholly new. 

 We have had a few advocates of open-air housing for poultry since 

 the earliest history of domestic poultry, but general promotion of 

 open-air or "fresh-air"' methods has only been developed during 

 the past decade. The doctrine of fresh air has been so successfully 

 preached that we now find open-front poultry buildings affording 

 comfort for fowls all over the American Continent in localities 

 where a few years ago open-front houses were not known. I firmly 

 believe that the general adoption of open-front houses for poultry 

 in cold and temperate climates and in hot climates where long, 

 chilling rains are prevalent, and of cage roosts for hot or warm 

 climates that are not subject to frequent heavy rains, will result in 

 a decided improvement in the health, vigor and vitality of domestic 

 poultry. 



Building plans are given for Woods' Improved Open-Air Poultry 

 House, designed and built by the author; the Gillette Open-Air 

 House, designed by George K. Gillette, manager Sugar Brook 

 Poultry Farm Co., Central Village, Conn. ; The Stoddard Open- 

 Air Cage Eoost, designed by H. H. Stoddard, Eiviera, Texas, for 

 warm or hot dry climates. Illustrations from photographs of the 

 Tolman Fresh-Air House are also given, but plans and building 

 instructions are omitted, as such are subject to the copyright of 

 the inventor. Joseph Tolman, of Eockland, IMass. 



This volume will have fulfilled its mission if it serves to create 

 a greater interest in open-air poultry housing and the building of 

 more practical open-air quarters tliroughont the land, thus insuring 

 greater comfort and greater constitutional vigor for the fowls and 

 better returns for the poultry keeper. 



Silver Lake, Mass., 1913. Prince T. Woods, M. D. 



