520 A fiTVBY OF FARM ANIMALS 



secured. A few suggestions, tliereforc, which are rather 

 general in their appUcation, are here given. 



The site of the poultry building should be where drainage 

 is good and the soil naturally dry. Further, the elevation 

 should be sufficient for a good circulation of air. Under 

 damp conditions throat or lung trouble is very likely to 

 occur. In damp soil of a clayey or loamy nature, intestinal 

 and other parasites that affect poultry breed more freely 

 than elsewhere. A dry location promotes clean bodies and 

 feet, which mean the production of clean eggs. 



The size of the poultry house should depend upon the 

 number of fowls one wishes to keep. On most farms large 

 flocks do not give as satisfactory returns as small ones. With 

 a flock of 50, each bird should be allowed 5 square feet of 

 room. With larger flocks not quite so much space per fowl 

 will be required. One can obtain satisfactory returns with 

 100 fowls of the smaller breeds in a house with 20 by 20 feet 

 of floor space. If fowls are crowded, good results in egg 

 production can not be expected. 



The width of the poultry house depends upon size of the 

 flock. Under most conditions, a house 14 or 16 feet wide 

 is ample for each pen. One should plan to use standard 

 lengths of timber, so that as little waste as possible will 

 occur in sawing. Poultry houses 20 feet wide are being 

 constructed to-day quite generally bj'' farmers with large 

 flocks, this size being economical in cost of material, and 

 providing a maximum of space for the same. 



The foundation of the poultry house should be of con- 

 crete or stone, if intended for a permanent laying house. 

 This foundation should be deep enough in the ground not to 

 be affected by the action of frost, and should rise 6 to 12 

 inches above the surface. The thickness of wall will depend 

 on local conditions, ranging from 6 to 8 inches. Portable 

 colony houses may be built on 4 x 4 runners. Halpin and 

 Ocock, of Wisconsin University, recommend the use of 



