HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
Raising Poultry in America-Making It a Profitable Busing
Errors in planning, constructing
and locating the building arc re
sponsible fur much loss of time ami
efficiency on the poultry plant.
Such losses may easily be avoided
by any one, even tlio most Inexperi
enced, who will take the trouble to
consider the mutter and make use
of the rlM experience of others.
The following article presents the
general principles of poultry-houHo
roiistrurtJon and local ion, as gener
ally accepted by the most successful
poultry keepers.
1!Y TOOK. FltEDKMC II. STONF.nrKN.
BEFORE the Interested beginner In
poultry-keeping can actually make a
start, "he must provide quarters for
liis fowls. The baby chicks may get
along comfortably for a time In the make
shift quarters afforded by a paper-covered
packing box, but as they grow and
reach maturity they demand more am
bitious structures. And, to a very consid
erable degree, the returns from tho flock
are determined by the character of the
buildings in which it is housed. This does
not indicate that poultry buildings must
necessarily bo costly, because In this case
efficiency is not measured by price. Sim
ple, inexpensive structures may have all
the essential features of the Ideal build
ing and give continuously satisfactory
service for a long term of years.
Obviously, tho best time to erect poul
try houses Is durlug the Summer months
when the weather is right and the days
long. One should take plenty of time to
carefully consider all the factors which
have a bearing upon his particular prob
lem, then select that tested type of house
which best meets his needs.
Adopt Tested Types of Houses.
Let us emphasize that word tested. The
enthusiastic amateur is too often Inclined
to experiment, to incorporate In his poul
try buildings features which he is pleased
to term "original," but which are usually
either valueless or worse. For untold
generations poultrymcn have been experi
menting in poultry house construction and
the popular structures of today represent
the best things which have been evolved.
It would be vain to predict that the future
will not bring forth Improved plaus, but
it is pretty sound advice to tell the be
ginner that he had best stick to struc
tures of known value and attempt to work
out new and original Ideas after he has
learned more about the needs of his birds.
In future articles we will give working
plans and descriptions of a number of
poultry buildings which are widely used
and generally satisfactory. This con
tribution will deal exclusively with the
general principles of the construction and
location of houses for the adult flock.
A very large proportion of the begin
ners and Blde-llne poultry keepers, may
find it easier and more economical to buy
their houses ready made rather than to
build them. This is especially true of
those who are so busy that they cannot
do the work themselves nnd must, there
fore, hire carpenters. Also, those who
are located in certain sections where
building materials are very high In price.
There are a number of well-known con
cerns which specialize In the manufacture
of portable poultry houses, buying the
materials In large quantities, doing much
of the work by machinery, and shipping
the structures in sections "knocked
down" thus securing the benefit of min
imum freight rates. In view of tho many
savings thus effected these builders can
frequently deliver satisfactory houses of
good design, complete with all needed
furnishings, at a figure well below the
cost of similar buildings erected at home.
When received, these portable houses
may be easily and quickly set up, it merely
being necessary to adjust a few bolls or
screws.
The portable house Is especially valu
able to those who live on rented property.
It it is ever necessary to change to a
new location the houses may be taken
down and sent by wagon or freight to
the new place. Many who erect their own
buildings are making them in easily
moved sections for this very good reason.
rn.diirtion Depends I'imiii Comfort.
It is important that Die noiiliryman
should always keep this fact in mind:
(irowth and egg production arc. In very
large degree, determined by tho comfort,
of the stock.
Aim to keep your birds continuously
comfortable. Make thorn happy and con
tented. Maximum returns can never ho
secured under any other conditions.
The location of the poultry house has
much to do with the comfort of the flock
kept therein. The soil, the exposure, the
protection afforded by hills, woods, build
ings and other windbreaks, even the mat
ter of atmospheric drainage, all have
their bearing upon the question.
In many cases tho poultrynian has but
one available location for his poultry
house. Under such conditions he should
do everything possible to overcome the
unfavorable factors. But where a consid
erable area of land Is at hand, it is al
ways wisdom to select that spot which
has the largest number of natural ad
vantages. The Ideal soli Is one which is open In
character, warm and well drained. Heavy
clay, even when Improved by tllo-draln-Ing,
Is inclined to be wet and cold, with
dirty, Btlcky surface, unpleasant to work
on and difficult to keep iu sanitary con
dition. Clear sand, at tho other extreme, has
a clean surface, Is usually dry, and Is
automatically purified by every rain. Ou
the other hnnd, sand is hot In tho warm
Benson and It is difficult to malntuln on
It a good stand of growing green stuff.
Sandy IOiini Soil Best.
The most satisfactory soil la tho happy
medium between theso extremes; a rather
light, sandy loam, well drained aud
warm, capable of producing good crops
of grass or other vegetation. Poultrymcn
are succeeding on heavy clay and clear
sand, and others can do likewise, but they
must tako the necessary measures to over
come the attendant draw hacks.
The house should be set in a sheltered
spot. A bleak hilltop Is exposed to the
sweep of the winds from every direction,
and while n free movement of air Is ap
preciated by the fowls during tho Summer
months, It Is not dcsirnMu during a targe
part of tho year.
Sometimes a valley, which nt first sight
might seem splendidly sheltered, la so
formed that it constitutes a funnel
through which tho winds sweep. This Is
quite as uncomfortable us the hilltop.
Where possible, place the building be
low the crest of a hill, behind woodland
or thick hedges, within tho shelter of
largo barns or other structures. If these
arc not available und the site Is an ex
posed one, high board fences may bo
erected and these will he of great help lu
overcoming tho effect of sweeping winds.
One of the best possible locations is a
gentlo hillside Inclining toward the south.
Steep hillsides are entirely satisfactory
to the birds, but the attendant cannot per
form his dally work ns easily as on a
moderate slope.
In such sheltered place the fowls re
ceive full benefit of tho Winter sunshlno
and are ablo to comfortably get out on
the ground for days nt a time when less
favored flocks are of necessity confined
to the house.
Of course, theso remarks apply particu
larly to those sections of the couutry
where tho Winters are trying. In the
south bucIi considerations have less
weight.
Never locate the house In depressions
or hollows where the dampness settles.
Air drainage is equally as Important as
soil drainage. Mists and fogs settle In
the low places, enveloping everything In a
damp blanket, nnd fowls which are con
stantly exposed to such condition are In
constant danger of contracting colds, roup
anil other diseases.
Face tho house to the south or slightly
east or west of Booth If the lay of the
land demand. This permits tho doors,
windows and other openings to bo so
rnnged that a maximum amount of sun
shlno is admitted and chilling winds kopt
out.
Tho above factors have n great bearing
upon maintaining comfortable conditions
during tho month of unfavorable weath
er. Hut ono must not overlook the 'net
thnt the bird may suffer ns keenly from
too high temperature as from tho cold.
And as August eggs are usually worth ns
much ns those produced In February, !t
paB to keep tho stock comfortable anri
productive during tho bent of midsummer.
This is best accomplished by providing
for ample ventilation of tho buildings and
supplying an abundance of shade In tho
yards. Tho latter may be natural of ai'.l
flelal, but It must be provided.
Just so far n condition permit, the
slto of tho building should bo convenient
for the caretaker. If tho flock Is right
at hand it will usually receive better care
than when quartered at a considerable
distance from the dwelling. And care
means eggs!
minis of Poultry House.
Tho essential feature of the house It
self may be stated ill a very few words.
Hut the designing of a building embody
ing all the desirable features is not such
Blmplo matter.
Remembering that tho house' Is a homo
for hi hens, tho poultrynian will first
strive to provide exactly the condition
which are most conducive to the health,
happiness and welfare of his flork.
First, tho building should bo dry. Our
land fowls can withstand heat and cold
much better than dampness, tinuipnesa
Is usually duo to tho use of an Improper
floor, a poor roof or Insufficient ventila
tion. Free ventilation is demanded that tho
stock may have an abumlanco of fresh
utr and not be compelled to live In a
vitiated, musty, damp n'mosphere. This
Is best secured through tho use of open
ings of goodly size in one stdo of tho
building. The modern open-front poultry
house Is the answer to this particular
problem.
The house should be free from draught
or rapidly moving currents of air. Those
are certainly the source of much discern
fort, save durlug the Summer months,
and may be a cause of sickness. Tight
const ruction of roof, ends and back of the
building will overcome tills trouble.
Plenty of light and HiiiiHhlno make for
tlte desired comfort and arc easily ad
mitted to tho building. They are especial
ly needed during the short, cold days;
I hey are weleome the rest of I he year.
A dark house is usually a dirty one ami
fowls confined therein will hardly pay a
profit.
Make IlliiUllngs l.nige linotigli.
The building should be largo enough to
give the birds plenty of room. Over
crowding mi nus lowered production. The
amount of floor mmc 11(7""
"iruc.iurca, aceo,n,od,n:
more bond, four to fiv
sufficient. In small nnl.m,1
inrly where tho flock ft
fined fur Anvm . ,.'
needed. Tho also of Ilia fuwij j
a so has a bear in r lr'l
building of alv.ui i '. , ,
Dryness, ventilation, f. .
draughts, light, sunshine and I
What tho birds rmmir.. t, '
found In a structure i 1
or constructed of alnmt am J
II In merelv n mi.li... . . . ' H
The poultrynian will , J1!?
hutldlnu are convent,.,, , '.
Interior fittings so arrnnitPd aiu,"
ti I tit to do bis work well in ,l
nnnce of limn. Tlnm iu i,
poultry-keeping and hums ,U
WHSIUU.
As a matter of buslne, )lf ,
economy of construction, crcrtlgr
et possible cost bulMing! hi,
tho abovo requirement.
In miinv rases II Is i,..n.t. .
uso of existing stnictur.n, la tuJ
uariin, oiu-iype poultry tmnwi .
little expense convert t hem hit
satisfactory quarters rnr tlie poult.
When ono really knows wim ,
It is not usually a dllflcuu
meet tho various requirement!,
Copyright, 1918, by Muton M.niAd,
Chicken l.leo aud Mlln.
Clear tho chicken hoimei of
pest by clearing out all rcfu...
tho sheds tnsldo and the roots rj
carbolic emulsion made an follom
Mssolvo In ono gulltin of toltltr
a half-pound of whalo oil imn 1
add two gallons of crude rrl,M, J
soto and stir rapidly until a
emulsion is made. Apply win,. I
tlon. Following this apply a ul
coat of whitewash, flllins up
crack and crevice which mij
hiding places for in lien.
In case of llco on poultry appl
lv lo the chicken I1ieii,,.tv. .
of plaster of I'arls and carbolic
mixture is made as follows: Ci i
nolle add, one-halt pint; g;iMt,
anil one-liall pints, ami planer o
five pounds, Work together to
moist powder and rub well intmt
ers. Theso are formulae nteirJ
by the (J. A. ;. Depart ut ol
oology.
A to the milk pall, hitt
us always. Never use s wnodn
for holding milk. Ami returaJ
best tin one are made without
and the small-topped one coat
gel cleaiier milk than e did bi
method.
LA F LEO IK FOWLH.
4 cmmam,
1)1111,1
..'v"'".;W,
The m. Flcelie fowl in exir,
1
poultrymcn hav. i. .,..,., . r r '.(,'. p. er, f UI.U
" . .. . ' ' l Slowing unu r II Ullnir nf liil.l..
upons ami noularde.i. x.,1,1 ,,,, .... p.7J . '.C. . , "''" " '' io K. In fa, , i,n market poultry nf 1 rnnvf.
lound elsewhere In the world rru 10 i traveler
muia iinimry are mil lis particular In mieh i,,,.,,..... ... V . now kkiii n,l nliuiiKu, linn our iuu
as are tho utllltv noun rVfltpn if sntn. I . : iniier.i an srluetioii 0f siipt-rlur lireeils. urowlnir mil finishing h,
. . " uiiinr iuuniriDH ti ,1 i..b m, I ul. L i, ... - . , - . . .. j.
uens are ran- uroriucSrs nf whliA.Ui..n.i .. ' . ".""" n '"
r . . .........M in IlirKtJ H1Y.H.
poiiluy of the finest aruile. il 111
A lie Inn mipui'loi' in unythlnK ot ll
Anierlea. Ani'iirrnilf.
shanks, nml our piodncn
t .are fair producer of whlie-nhellca ku
i the V -shaped comb, which Is clearly shown
lu the "cut.
4 milllttlM' ln,.lM. Ili. .mnA I'.lf. I,llllll19,
rhe phimaKo color la rliii, iclosny lilaek. ' One necuimr fo'""
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