Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1915)
HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION Raising Poultry in America Making It a Profitable Business Errors in planning, constructing 4 and locating the buildings are re sensible for much loss of time and efficiency on the poultry plant. t Such losses may easily be avoided I by any one, even the most inexperi- ! cured, who will take the trouble to consider the matter and make use of the ripe experience of others, t The following article presents the J general principles of poultry-house construction and location, as gener. i ally accepted by the most successful 4 poultry keepers. . KY PROF. FREDERIC H. STONEBURN. BEFORE the interested beginner in poultry-keeping can actually make a start, he must provide quarters for his 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 the flock are determined by the character of the buildings In which it is boused. This does not indicate that poultry buildings must necessarily be 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, the best time to erect poul try houses is during 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 be3t meets his needs. Adopt Tested Types of Houses. Let us emphasize that word tested. The enthusiastic amateur is too often inclined 10 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 poultrymen have been experi menting in poultry house construction and the popular structures of today represent the best things which have been evolved. r would be vain to predict that the future will not bring forth improved plans, but if 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 llan9 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 r.ers and side-line 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 and 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 w-ork by machinery, and shipping the structures in sections "knocked down" thus securing the benefit of min imum freight rates. In view of the 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 bolts or screws. The portable house is especially valu able to those who live on rented property. If 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. Production Depends I'pon Comfort. It is important that the poultryman should always keep this fact in mind: Growth and egg production are, In very large degree, determined by the comfort of the stock. Aim to keep your birds continuously comfortable. Make them happy and con tented. Maximum returns can never be , 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 the poultryman 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 soil Is one which Is open In character, warm and well drained. Heavy clay, even when Improved by tile-draining, is inclined to be wet and cold, with dirty, sticky surface, unpleasant to work on and difficult to keep in sanitary con dition. Clear sand, at the other extreme, has a clean Burface, Is usually dry, and is automatically purified by every rain. On the other hand, sand is hot in the warm season and it is difficult to maintain on it a good stand of growing green stuff. .Sandy Loam Soil Best. The most satisfactory soil is the happy medium between these extremes; a rather light, sandy loam, well drained and warm, capable of producing good crops of grass or other vegetation. Poultrymen are succeeding on heavy clay and clear sand, and others can do likewise, but they must take the necessary measures to over come the attendant drawbacks. 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 a free movement of air is ap preciated by the fowls during the Summer months, it is not desirable during a large part of the year. Sometimes a valley, which at first sight might seem splendidly sheltered, is so formed that it constitutes a funnel through which the winds sweep. This is quite as uncomfortable as the hilltop. Where possible, place the building be-' low the crest of a hill, behind woodland or thick hedges, within the shelter of large barns or other structures. If these are not available and the site Is an ex posed one, high board fences may be erected and these will be of great help In overcoming the effect of sweeping winds. One of the best possible locations is a gentle hillside inclining toward the south. Steep hillsides are entirely satisfactory to the birds, but the attendant cannot per form his dally work as easily as on a moderate slope. In such sheltered places the fowls re ceive full benefit of the Winter sunshine and are able to comfortably get out on the ground for days at a time when less favored flocks are of necessity confined to the house. Of course, these remarks apply particu larly to those sections of the country where the Winters are trying. In the south such 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, and fowls which are con stantly exposed to such conditions are in constant danger of contracting colds, roup and other diseases. Face the house to the south or slightly east or w-est of south if the lay of the land demands. This permits the doors, windows and other openings to be so ar ranged that a maximum amount of sun shine is admitted and chilling winds kept out. The above factors have a great bearing upon maintaining comfortable conditions during the months of unfavorable weath er. But one must not overlook the fact that the birds may suffer as keenly from too high temperature as from the cold. And as August eggs are usually worth as much as those produced in February, it pays to keep the stock comfortable and productive during the heat of midsummer. This is best accomplished by providing for ample ventilation of the buildings and supplying an abundance of shade in the yards. The latter may be natural of arti ficial, but it must be provided. Just so far as conditions permit, the site of the building should be convenient for the caretaker. If the 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! " Essentials of Poultry House. The essential features of the house it self may be stated in a very few words. But the designing of a building embody ing all the desirable features is not such a simple matter. Remembering that the house is a home for his hens, the poultryman will first strive to provide exactly the conditions which are most conducive to the health, happiness and welfare of his flock. First, the building should be dry. Our land fowls can withstand heat and cold much better than dampness. Dampness is usually due to the use of an improper floor, a poor roof or insufficient ventila tion. Free ventilation Is demanded that the stock may have an abundance of fresh air and not be compelled to live in a vitiated, musty, damp atmosphere. This Is best secured through the use of open ings of goodly size in one side of the building. The modern open-front poultry house is the answer to this particular problem. The house should be free from draughts or rapidly moving currents of air. These are certainly the source of much discom fort, save during the Summer months, and may be a -cause of sickness. - Tight construction of roof, ends and back of the building will overcome this trouble. Plenty of light and sunshine make for the desired comfort and are easily ad mitted to the building. They are especial ly needed during the short, cold days; they are welcome the rest of the year. A dark house Is usually a dirty one and fowls confined therein will hardly pay a profit. Make Buildings Large Enough. The building should be large enough to give the birds plenty of room. Over crowding means lowered production. The amount of floor space allowed each bird varies according to circumstances. In large structures, accommodating 50 or more head, four to five square feet is sufficient. In small buildings, particu larly where the flock must be kept con fined for days at a time, more space is needed. The size of the fowls themselves also has a bearing upon the matter. A building of given size will accommodate a larger number of Leghorns than of Brahmas. Dryness, ventilation, freedom from draughts, light, sunshine and room are what the birds require. These may be found in a structure of almost any size or constructed of almost any material. It Is merely a matter of planning. The poultryman will see to it that his buildings are convenient to work in, with interior fittings so arranged as to permit him to do his work well in the shortest space of time. Time is a big factor in poultry-keeping and none should be wasted. As a matter of business he will seek economy of construction, erecting at low est possible cost buildings which meet the above requirements. In many cases it is possible to make use of existing structures, as woodsheds, barns, old-type poultry houses, and at little expense convert them Into really satisfactory quarters for the poultry flock. When one really knows what Is needed it is not usually a difficult problem to meet the various requirements. Copyright, 19lf, by Matos - Mem Adv. Co., Inc. Chicken Lire and Mite. Clear the chicken-houses of poultry posts by clearing out all refuse and spray the sheds inside and the roots with crude carbolic emulsion made as follows: Dissolve in one gallon of boiling water a half-pound of whale oil soap, To this add two gallons of crude carbolic or creo sote and stir rapidly until a thorough emulsion is made. Apply without dilu tion. Following this apply a thorough coat of whitewash, Ailing up all the cracks and crevices which may' afford hiding places for mites. In case of lice on poultry apply direct ly to the chickens themselves a mixture of plaster of Paris and carbolic acid. This mixture is made as follows: Crude car bolic acid, one-half pint; gasoline, one and one-half pints, and plaster of Purls, five pounds. Work together to form a moist powder and rub well into the feath ers. These are formulae recommended by the 0. A. C. Department of lOnto-niology. As to the milk pall, we have it with us always. Never use a wooden bucket for holding milk. And remember the best tin ones are made without a seam, and the small-topped ones enable us to get cleaner milk than we did by the old method. LA FLECHE FOWLS. The La Flcehe fowl In extremely popular among the French producers of table poultry of the finest grade and these poultrymen have no superiors In the art of growing and finishing of table stock. In fact, the market poultry ofFrance the capons and poulardes, sold on the Paris market is frequently referred to by travelers as belns Buperlor to anything of the kind found elsewhere in the world. ... If the above la true one naturally wonders why the breed bun not been widely adopted In America. " Apparently the explanation lies In two facts: Our markets generally demand table Btock having yellow skin and shanks, and our producers of table poultry are not as particular in auch important mailers as selection of superior breeds, growing and finishing the stock as are the utility poultrymen of some other countries. Males weigh 8fi and "4 pounds; females, -7 i and 64 pounds The' hens are fair producers of white-shelled eggs of large size. The plumage color is rich, glossy black. One peculiar feature la the v-shaped comb, which is clearly shown In the cut.
