76 POULTRY CULTURE 



Special features. Local climatic conditions affecting poultry 

 depend, as a rule, upon the character or formation of the land, 

 features of the landscape, prevailing winds, etc. Their relations to 

 poultry keeping are presented in connection with the topics of soil, 

 sunlight, and ventilation. It has been stated that these conditions 

 are under the control of the poultryman. This is not true in the 

 sense that he can alter them, though sometimes he may ; but when 

 he cannot change he can usually avoid them, for in most cases an 

 unfavorable local condition affects only a small area, and is escaped 

 when buildings for poultry are placed on suitable sites. 



Soils and drainage. That a light, well-drained soil, of little value 

 for the production of vegetable crops, is best suited for poultry was 

 long a maxim among poultry keepers. Of late years that view has 

 been greatly modified. Such a soil has advantages. That it is the 

 best soil for exclusive poultry keeping by intensive methods can- 

 not be denied. Such land can be easily and continuously stocked 

 with poultry longer than any other ; but there is a limit to . the 

 capacity of any soil to convey excrement and disease germs so far 

 below the surface that they will be harmless, and with the passing 

 of intensive methods, and the increasing tendency to either stock 

 land lightly or rotate poultry on it, the objections to heavy soils 

 become of less importance. The special advantages of light soils 

 will always be admitted, but such land is no longer regarded as 

 the prime requisite, while the fact that under some conditions it 

 has decided disadvantages is more generally recognized. 



Clay soils. Clay soils are least suited to poultry, but if surface 

 drainage is good, overstocking avoided, and the land frequently 

 broken up for tillage, the character of the soil does not present 

 a serious obstacle to poultry keeping. 



It is desirable that land on which permanent buildings are 

 placed should be of such character or conformation that water 

 will not stand near them and that the poultry will always have the 

 use of an area of approximately dry land. With this insurance 

 against protracted exposure on cold, damp land, it will be found 

 that poultry on a range which affords varied soil conditions are 

 more thrifty and make better development than those restricted 

 to light, well-drained soils. This is especially noticeable in hot, 

 dry seasons. 



