SIZE AND PROPORTION 



lis 



much floor space as the Leghorn and other Mediterranean classes; 

 but the smaller breeds, being more active and more nervous, are 

 more apt to become unduly excited and panicky when crowded 

 in a small pen. It is difficult for the attendant to work in a small 

 house or pen without getting the flock into a condition of unrest 

 and excitability for fear of being cornered, and such is not con- 

 ducive to egg production. 



The situation may be summarized about as follows: Allow 6 

 to 7 square feet per bird for all classes, if the houses are small. 



Fig. 78. — Poultry house under construction by students at Purdue University. 



Provide 5 to 6 square feet per bird of the Plymouth Rock or 

 Wyandotte type, in houses where the flocks are made up of large 

 units. Allow 3 to 4 square feet per bird for Leghorns and similar 

 classes, when they are kept in large flocks. This is the practice 

 on many of the largest commercial farms. 



To obtain the greatest amount of floor space at the least cost, 

 the building should be designed as wide as possible, yet not exceed 

 a point where long timbers are required, for these are certain to 

 be expensive. Sixteen feet is a good width for the shed roof type 

 of house; the timbers required are stock lengths, therefore sold 



