SPECIAL FEED HOUSE 177 



close to the flocks. Some poultrymen build a feed room in con- 

 nection with each long laying house, usually in the center of the 

 building, and sometimes with overhead tracks to convey the 

 feed to the birds. See Fig. 122. An important saving in labor 

 is accomplished by such equipment, and where large quantities 

 of heavy feed are used, as on duck plants of any size, these meas- 

 ures are essential. 



The overhead track system, from which cars are swung and 

 made to run by pushing them, similar to litter carriers in dairy 

 barns, is thoroughly practical in every way. Another method is 

 to employ tramcars operated on rails, which may be of wood or 

 steel. For indoor use the overhead rail is cheapest, because the 

 building can be made to support the track. See Fig. 123. Out- 

 doors the tramway is generally the most economical. 



It is doubtful if the average size poultry plant would be justi- 

 fied in expending the capital required to install any sort of a 

 carrier. Certainly plants under 3000 birds would not be war- 

 ranted in so doing. 



Converting Old Buildings. — ^Then, again, many poultry farms 

 are started on premises which have certain buildings erected, as, 

 for example, a barn or wagon house, which with a few improve- 

 ments may be converted into satisfactory feed houses. In this 

 event the poultry houses should be built on sites adjacent to the 

 barn, and on all sides of it, though not too close, which will inter- 

 fere with a satisfactory arrangement of yards. Another objection 

 to having the buildings too close arises from the fire hazard. It 

 is a good plan to have the buildings at least a hundred feet apart, 

 preferably two hundred feet. In this way, should a fire occur 

 in some part of the plant, it cah be fought and confined to the one 

 building. 



Avoid Crowding the Buildings. — You will find some farms with 

 the buildings all bunched up together; incubator cellar with 

 brooder house and feed room overhead, and leading off from the 

 feed room are the laying houses, breeding pens and yards for 

 young stock. Such an arrangement is convenient by reason of 

 its compactness, but when carried to extremes it is likely to result 



