16 OPEN-AIR POULTRY HOUSES 



sary oxygen than it has during the day and there is more danger 

 of breathing over and over again the foul gases exhaled. 



The reader may think that for a book on houses I have given 

 considerable space to this chapter on sunlight and fresh air, but if 

 it will serve to promote a more general use of actual open-front 

 poultry buildings it will prove syaee well spent. I have had ten 

 years' experience with open-front houses of various types, and prior 

 to that had for many years used closed houses, curtain front houses 

 and open sheds, as well as allowing some fowl to roost in the trees. 

 From my own experience and from observing the results obtained 

 by others and from reports of open-front house users all over the 

 American Continent, I am convinced that the properly constructed 

 open-front house is the only sane and sensible method of housing 

 poultry in cold and temperate climates, and the entirely open, 

 roofed, shelter or the cage roost is most desirable for warm and hot 

 climates. 



The importance of abundant sunlight and fresh air needs no 

 further comment here. If poultry keepers everywhere would 

 abandon the old type of closed poultry house and adopt a well 

 constructed open-front house, or such form of roqgt, shelter or 

 cage roost as is best adapted to their location and climate, and 

 would -breed and feed for health, there would be less poultry dis- 

 ease each year and in the years to come it might be eliminated. 

 Open-air housing of laying and breeding stock and common-sense 

 breeding and feeding for health will do more towards obtaining 

 healthy poultry, fertile, hatchable eggs, and strong, sturdy chicks 

 than all the systems, treatments and remedies ever invented. 



Give the open-front house, with plenty of sunlight and fresh air, 

 a fair trial, Mr. Doubter, and you, like others who came to scofE, 

 will remain to pray. 



