22 
BROODING HOUSES. 
The general construction of a brooder house is similar to that of the 
breeding house, and differs only in interior arrangements. The latter 
has no interior arrangements whatever, while the former has the sys¬ 
tem of heating and covers necessary for giving warmth to the young 
stock. In fig. 17 is shown a design of single-brooder house and ground 
plan that is generally used by duck raisers. This house should be 
built upon a good foundation and be entirely proof against rats. A 
good plan is to sink half-inch wire mesh about 2 feet in the ground and 
around the entire inside of the building; this will make it perfectly 
secure against rats and mice. 
The accepted plan of a brooder house makes it 15 feet wide and as 
long as desired. The building is 4 feet high in front and 5 feet in rear. 
GROUND PLAN. 
Fig. 13.—Plan and ground plan of five-pen breeding house for ducks. 
It is divided into pens 12 feet long and 6 feet wide, and has a 3 foot 
passageway extending the entire length of the building. The ground 
plan (fig. 17) shows the general arrangement of the interior and loca¬ 
tion of the brooders. 
The brooder box is next to the passageway, or walk, and runs the 
entire length of the building. This box is 30 inches wide and 8 inches 
high; the sides are 7 inches high and nailed securely; the top of the 
cover is nailed across with cleats to make it substantial, and the cover 
has an inch strip nailed underneath in front and back to keep it in 
position. These strips rest against the 7-inch sides and make the 
brooder snug and tight when closed. The heating pipes are directly 
beneath the cover and are 2-inch pipes, flow and return. Some prefer 
' 1-inch pipes, using two flows and two returns. When three pipes are 
