


A SUCCESSFUL BROODER HOUSE. 179 
For the needs of the practical farmer or poultry man some 
slight changes might be made in the above plan. ‘The alley 
could be reduced to three feet in width, and still be large 
enough to accommodate one attendant. The length of the chick 
pens might be reduced one or two feet, thus making the build- 
ing narrower. ‘The depth of the alley might be made three 
feet instead of three and one-half feet, and the sides made of 
heavy plank instead of masonry. ‘The cement floor could be 
replaced with an earth floor, provided rats could be repelled. 
The entry extension could be dispensed with. For ordinary 
use in southern New England the wall might be satisfactory if 
constructed of two thicknesses of inch boards with paper be- 
tween. All of the above changes would result in a financial 
saving so far as the first cost of the building is concerned, but, 
excepting the reduction in width of alley, they would also cause 
a decreased efficiency. 
