Chapter X 



The Poultry House 



A SUCCESSFUL poultry house combines the following 

 characteristics ; 



1. It is dry. This is secured by having a concrete floor 

 laid upon cinders, broken stone, or coarse gravel, and elevated 

 about one foot above the surrounding ground. The roof and 

 walls are water proof and a good circulation prevents the con- 

 densation of moisture from the fowls upon any portion of the 

 room. 



2. It is well ventilated. This is accomplished by windows, 

 shutters, screens, or ventilators placed on one side of the 

 building so as to prevent drafts. The top, two ends and rear 

 side of a poultry house should always be air tight. The 

 ventilation, therefore, should be secured from the front. The 

 shutter method is probably the best as it prevents the entrance 

 of rain and snow and can be kept open in all seasons. A 

 frame covered with fine wire netting will be found very satis- 

 factory. It has the advantage of admitting light as well as 

 pure air. The glass windows should be adjusted sothat they 

 can be opened when weather conditions require. 



By this system ventilation is accomplished by diffusion. 

 There is a constant interchange between the warm air ■within 

 and the pure air on the outside. Such a poultry house will 

 never be stuffy or ill-smelling. Other methods of ventilation 

 are by means of ventilators placed in the roof, by canvas- 

 covered doors, and by an open front. Ventilators in the roof 

 often serve a good purpose ; the pores of canvas soon become 

 filled with dust so as to prevent the fresh air from sifting into 

 the house, and can\as shuts out the light ; the open front is 

 very popular and will be satisfactory if provision is made to 

 protect against driving storms. 



3. It is well lighted. AVindows should extend from upper 

 to lower plate so as to admit the sunlight to all portions of the 

 floor. Sunshine is a germicide, as well as oxygen, and it is not 

 possible to have the supply too abundant. \\'indows should be 



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