IDEAL TYPE OF HOUSE 



113 



labor to produce a dozen eggs by the colony plan than by a more 

 intensive arrangement. 



The ideal type of poultry house is not necessarily the most ex- 

 pensive building. It should be serviceable above all things, fairly 

 roomy, well ventilated and yet free from direct drafts, capable of 

 being flooded with sunlight, and dry and sanitary at all times. 

 It should be built wherever possible with the view to simplicity, 

 economy and convenience. To spend large sums on it is almost 

 as grave an error as to slight it, for money expended for unneces- 



(Cornell Experiment Station) 



Fig. 76. — Housing plans. Diagram on left indicates colony house system; 

 dotted line shows the distance travelled to reach all the buildings. In the 

 right-hand diagram the same number of pens are brought together in a con- 

 tinuous house; note the amount of walking saved. 



sary purposes on a poultry farm is dead capital and brings no re- 

 turn on the investment. 



It is impossible, of course, to meet all conditions or suit all 

 tastes in one or two types of houses, but if one gains a familiarity 

 with the fundamental principles of poultry house construction, 

 it is then a simple matter to incorporate those principles into a 

 type suitable to any tastes, conveniences, soils and climatic con- 

 ditions. 



Warmth. — ^A warm house, or at least warm sleeping quarters, 

 is one of the prime requisites for winter egg production ; yet arti- 

 8 



