Notes for the Poultry Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 68, Issue 5, 15 May 1944, Page 383

Notes for the Poultry Farmer

r T"’HE selection of the type of housing THE selection the type of housing to be itsed for a poultry-farm is a matter of major importance. It involves the expenditure of a considerable amount of capital, and once erected the housing is intended to last for years. Thus, any initial mistakes made in this direction may influence adversely for a long period the health, production, and economic handling of birds, unless further money is spent to rectify any such mistakes. Poultryhousing generally is of simple construction and does not call for expensive materials, as compared with other types of buildings. While elaborate buildings will not necessarily give increased production, the poultry-farmer who anticipates establishing a farm from which to derive his livelihood is warned against the use of inferior materials and make-shift buildings. Such may appear to be cheap housing at the time. of erection, but taken over a period of years they rarely prove to be a saving. Good housing properly located on a well-planned farm will prove its worth in the hands of the efficient poultry-farmer. Briefly summarised, housing for poultry of all ages is required to afford the birds adequate protection, ample light, good ventilation, without draughts, and dry conditions. Birds should be rendered comfortable at all ages, and conditions which would appear unpleasant to humans, such as draughtiness, dampness, stuffy atmosphere, etc., are all likely to affect adversely stock and production and should be avoided. The types of housing required upon a poultry-farm will depend upon the purpose of that farm, and the form of management adopted. With a view to covering the requirements of the majority of poultry-farms, mention will be made of the more usual types of housing in use in New Zealand at the present time. Alternative types of housing will be described where it is considered that such are likely to prove of value in certain districts where special climatic conditions exist. Laying-houses The ordinary lean-to house is the type of laying-house most commonly chosen in New Zealand. Owing to climatic conditions, partially open-fronted houses may be used with success. This fact assists considerably in affording ample light and good ventilation, while reducing the cost of housing appreciably. Figs. 1,2, and 3 illustrate an end elevation, a front elevation, and a plan respectively of a standard type of laying-house. Figs. 4,5, and 6 are photographs of typical lean-to. houses

of the type which has the front of the house higher than the back. Obviously there . are small variations : in. regard to the position. of the door, the type of hood used, etc., on different farms; but all are • suitable for both- intensively and semi-intensively managed laying flocks. The amount of floor-space per bird required varies with the two : systems, reference to which fact will be made later. In certain districts where cold winter weather is experienced preference is shown by a number of poultry keepers for a lean-to house with the front lower than the back. Fig. 7 illustrates this type ,of house. It can be claimed that the low-pitched rays of a winter sun reach the birds more easily, and in general this type of house gives warmer housing conditions. General Specifications 1. Size of Floor-space: The measurement of a house is controlled by the' size of flock it is desired to maintain and varies according to the system of management; hence the following floor-space per bird housed should be allowed—(a) For intensivelyhoused birds, 4 to 4| sq. feet and (b) for semi-intensively housed birds, 3| sq. feet. The depth of the house must be sufficient to afford ample protection to . birds while roosting

on perches fitted at the back of the house. Poultry-farmers vary in their opinions as to the desirable depth of a laying-house, and these variations range between 16 and 20 ft. It is suggested, however, that 16 ft. is satisfac-

tory for semi-intensive laying-houses, and 18 ft. for intensive housing. Thus, having fixed the depth, it is an easy matter to divide the depth in the total number of square feet of floor-space required for any given unit, and thus

obtain the necessary width of the house. . _ For 100 birds—-Semi-intensive .... 22 ft. wide, 16 ft. deep Intensive (maximum) 25 „ ~ 18 ~ ~ For 50 birds— Semi-intensive .... 12 ~ ~ 16 ~ ~ Intensive 14 ~ ~ 16 ~ ',, (With the smaller unit the depth, of the house may be decreased and the width increased for intensive purposes.) 2. Height of House: Here again poul-try-farmers vary in their opinions. For general purposes an inside measurement from floor to roof of 7 ft. to 7 ft. 6 ins. .in the front and sloping off to 5 ft. 6 ins. to 6 ft. inside measurement at the back is recommended. Houses greater in height are to be found, but the measurements given will be satisfactory, providing proper ventilation is given (see note on ventilation). Where houses are made larger in cubic capacity than is necessary they are apt to be cold in winter. Against this, however, the measurements given may be increased slightly for housing in the Auckland district, where climatic conditions demand the maximum of ventilation and air . capacity. . It will : be noted that with the measurements of height for the front and back of the house a roof fall or slope of approximately 18 in. is allowed. With roofing material normally in use for poultryhousing not less than 1 in. fall for each foot in depth of house is recommended.

3. Ventilation: Efficient ventilation without draught is of the greatest importance in poultry - housing. The health of the birds, their freedom from colds, and the condition of the litter in the house will all be affected by ventilation. If birds - are to be maintained in perfect health they must have an ample supply of fresh air (oxygen), while stale air laden with the byproducts of the processes of the birds’ bodies should be removed from the house. Stuffiness in a house is as liable to cause colds in birds as a direct draught. Furthermore, an inade-quately-ventilated house will tend to produce an atmosphere . higher in moisture content than is necessary or desirable. This occurs more particularly during the winter months. Should these conditions exist, it will be appreciated that the litter is liable to absorb

moisture from the air, and ultimately become dampa condition definitely injurious ,to the health of birds and a frequent cause of colds and roup. It is desirable, therefore, to have a steady flow of fresh air passing through the house, but without the presence of draughts. With wire-netting forming the greater. proportion of the front of the house adequate provision is made for a free exchange of air at the front, but this should be augmented by additional ventilation at the back of the house. This is best supplied by a gap between the upper plate on the back wall and the roof. This gap will be 4 in. in depth where 4 in. by 2 in. rafters are used. Where such a gap is left unprotected it is possible, with a strong wind blowing on to the back of the house, to get a draught through the house, but. if the rafters are extended

for 6 in. beyond -the back wall, and a 6 ft. x 1 in. or an 8 ft. x 1 in. baffleboard is attached to the ends of these rafters, then air can still pass freely into the house, but no draught is possible, however strong the wind may

be on the back of the house. Fig. 8 illustrates this method of ventilation. In the Auckland Province it may be found that this amount of ventilation

is inadequate during the summer months. This can be j' improved by allowing a gap of greater depth than 4 in., or by placing special adjustable or controllable openings in the back of the house. • > ” Where it is intended to construct a long house, to be divided into pens, under most conditions (Auckland again excepted) it is advisable to have solid wooden partitions between each pen, to prevent draughts, which occur in a long-tubular-shaped house. It is not possible here to describe the several methods of ventilating laying houses which have z a span or apex roof, but poultry-farmers are advised to discuss ventilation methods with . someone experienced in this matter before constructing houses of this type. It will be found that the oldfashioned type of . ridge caps at the apex of the roof are liable to result in bad down-draughts during a strong wind. Such draughts are undesirable and can be avoided by a proper type of ridge ventilation. 4. Protection Against Rain at the Front of the — With an openfronted house there is a danger of rain driving in with a wind blowing directly on to the front .of a house during a storm. This trouble can be obviated to an appreciable extent by an extension of the roof, either straight-out for about 2 ft. 6in. following the roof-line, or by a hood of the type illustrated in Fig. 9. Such an extension or hood will

also afford some protection from rain to the poultry farmer when passing down the front of the house during inclement weather.

5. The ’Floor. lt is highly desirable that the floor of a . laying-house should possess two principal characteristics, namely, that it is dry and that it lends itself to easy and thorough cleaning. To obtain a dry floor the floor-level inside the house should be well above the level of the ground surrounding the house. This is a most important

point to bear in mind when constructing a poultry-house. An additional precaution in the case of a concrete floor is the use of a hard core of stones, rubble, etc., placed under the 2-3 in. of concrete which constitute the floor itself. Where wooden floors are used they should be kept at least 6 in. above ground-level, to allow the free passage of air under the floor. It is preferable to raise the floor higher to allow of access under the house in case rats establish themselves there. Earth floors cannot be recommended, since • they are difficult and laborious to keep clean. Should disease break out, much of the earth must be removed and fresh supplied, whereas with concrete and wooden floors with a smooth surface cleaning and disinfecting are rendered comparatively easy. Good concrete floors are entirely satisfactory for poultry and are an asset in the control of disease. The surface should be floated off, to give a smooth surface, which facilitates cleaning. 6. Building Materials. — general, difficulties exist today under war conditions in obtaining building materials for poultry-housing. The materials are, however, available to all poultryfarmers if the correct procedure for obtaining them is followed. To those who are uncertain of this procedure it is strongly recommended that they gel into touch with the Poultry Instructor for the district, or write direct to the Department of Agriculture, Wellington. It should be noted that corrugated galvanised iron is not available to poultry-farmers/ but that timber and asbestos sheeting, both plain and corrugated, are available. Where preferred, timber and roofing felt may be used as roofing material. The latter is not controlled, and does not require a permit for release. It may be added that asbestos sheeting is now being used satisfactorily for walls and as roofing material, in place of galvanised iron commonly in use when supplies were available. .

—F. C. BOBBY,

Superintendent

of Poultry Husbandry, Wellington. (Continued.)

“The Theory and Practice of Poultry Feeding” (Bulletin 198) has just been published and is on sale at 6d. per copy (post free) at the offices of the Department of Agriculture at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. It contains information of value to all interested in egg production.

Importance of Good Housing