CHAPTER IX 

 PRINCIPLES OF POULTRY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION 



The question often arises, which is the best 'system of poultry 

 management? 



Many persons have been led to believe that such systems exist, 

 even to the extent of being patented, and for the use of which it 

 is necessary to pay certain sums of money. The truth is, that 

 while hundreds of books and pamphlets have been published on 

 this subject, purporting to be secret methods and systems, many 

 of which contain extravagant claims, there is no such thing as a 

 hard and fast system of poultry culture. 



On the contrary, the only principle which might be said to con- 

 stitute a system, and upon which all of the so-called systems and 

 secret methods agree, is — that the management or care shall be 

 systematically done. Beyond this every poultryman must 

 evolve his own individual methods and practices, those which 

 are best suited to a given purpose in a given locality. It is im- 

 portant that one should have a definite purpose, for in that way 

 only is it possible to determine the most suitable location, the 

 best type of housing, the most profitable breeds, and so on. 



Location. — ^While fowls can be kept almost anywhere and 

 everywhere, they do best in congenial locations. Soil conditions 

 and the arrangement and construction of buildings have much 

 to do with their health and profit. We must also consider the 

 means and inclinations of their owner. 



Briefly, the ideal location may be summarized as follows: 

 Choose a soil which is light enough to provide good natural 

 drainage, yet heavy enough to grow grass, and a site having a 

 south or southeast exposure, protected from prevailing high 

 winds. 



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