HOUSING PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 18, 21 July 1934, Page 13

HOUSING PROBLEMS

CONCRETE FLOORS

VALUE OF GALVANISED IRON

It-is-very diMcult -to supjily ■ plans ana specifications of poultry sheds to suit general, requirements. Local conditions must Ijo considered together with- the- type of poultry farming undertaken. What appears perfect -to one individual will not suit another/ and not everyone can afford to "erect good sheds out of new timber. But there arc several points which are important, and of theso it is well to remember' the value of sunlight, combined with "ood ventilation free from draughts The depth of the shed should always be greater than the width of each section since this : allows the birds to sleep at the back of the shed away from expoI sure, at the same time permitting plenty of room in the front, of the shed for feeding and nesting appliances. Sunlight is not only valuable to the birds themselves, but acts-as' a purifier helping to destroy germs and dampness The-■worst conditions exist when prevailing winds blow from tue- north, and under such conditions glass ov glass substitutes must be used to shelter the front opqaing.

"While iron buildings are not proof against extremes of temperature, iron has the double value of being sanitary and easy to erect.' Seeona-hand iron always fetches good .value, whilst wooden fowlhouses are almost useless for romoval. Asbestos sheeting might be used more frequently if it was not so easily .broken. Wooden sheds are undoubtedly more suitable in very cold climates, but they are subject to red mite infection, and. 1 must be regularly, sprayed. Except in extreme-southern districts, corrugated Iron is certainly

more and moror room under-the inte£ sivo system. .The height of the shea is not important so long as ithere is suffieient head room and enough fall on thoroof=to take off,ram water/ A site should be selected for; t h6 shed which is srightly. higher than.:the surrounding ground, as mud-puddles near the house must be avoided at all costs. If a natural site does not exist, a few drayloads of soil dumped on the site will help.; If finances : .permit, use only dressed timber ' throughout for this is easily cleaned free .from dust and verniin. Keep all openings' at. the front, since a pop-hole at -tlio-Tjaclc would" create floor draughts. Dropping boards under the perches are a inattei- of personal experience, but anyone who has cleaned out a week?s droppings from 100 birds will realise'the amount of filtli

that must accumulate'if they are not used. Many argue that they -would rather clean out the whole floor once

evory month or so than -have : the

trouble of .cleaning, 'dropping boards every other day. See that-.the;'do.ors

are wide- enough for a barrow, strongly hinged, and ;swung; high: enough not to jam on the litter, j Uniformity throughout is most important when a suitable

shed has been., designed.

not to be recommended, as this lightens the- soil, making it too easy for the birds to" destroy the grass. Once a good sole of grass is established, it should not be spoilt by overstocking, but tho long grass of spring and autumn must be grazed by sheep, coarse stringy grass being of no value to poultry. Uso plenty of burnt lime on all runs, and, if necessary, "net off portion of tho yard iv order to maintain the turf. -

Fowl-sick ground.is the cause of much sickness. Actually the soil becomes crowded with disease and parasite germs and eggs, which are swallowed by. tho birds when scratching for insects. Far better to keep the birds intensively than to allow them to rango oa very stale ground. Many poultrymen allow the birds to run out only for a couple of hours daily, usually between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; just sufficient to let thorn pick greenSj without spoiling the grass by over-scratching. If top-dressing the green feed plots with poultry manure, stir- this well into the soil, and do not let the leaves become fouled, as this is a certain cause of spreading disease. In wet weather it is a good plan to provide a dust bath inside the sheds; .