Caption title.Cover title: Straw-loft poultry house

Alp, Herbert Howard

Carter, Deane G.

IDEALS @ Illinois

Two-unit straw-loft poultry house

Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship Repository

TRAW-LOFT

' . , '\. h 
, .'. 
OULTRYHO 

20 x 40 FE E'T - TWO UNIT S - 100 B I R D SEAC H 
w·Co;st ,I'nsulation - Practical Ventilatio;11 

CIRCULAR 525 

UNIVERSITY ' OF ILLINOIS •••• COLLEGE OF 'AGRICU,LTURE 

EXTENSION SERVICE ' IN AGRICULTURE AND HO'ME ECONOMIC'S 



T w o - U n i t  S t r a w - L o f t  P o u l t r y  H o u s e  
B y  D .  G .  C A R T E R  a n d  H .  H .  A L ¥ ­
M
O D E R A T E  a n d  f a i r l y  u n i f o r m  t e m p e r a t u r e s  c a n  u s u a l l y  b e  
m a i n t a i n e d  m o r e  e a s i l y  a n d  e c o n o m i c a l l y  i n  a  s t r a w - 1 0 f t  
p o u l t r y  h o u s e  t h a n  i n  s o m e  o f  t h e  o t h e r  c o m m o n  t y p e s .  T h i s  
i s  b e c a u s e  o f  t h e  e f f e c t i v e  l o w - c o s t  i n s u l a t i o n  a f f o r d e d  b y  t h e  s t r a w .  
S i n c e  l o s s e s  i n  e g g  p r o d u c t i o n  o f t e n  f o l l o w  r a d i c a l  t e m p e r a t u r e  
c h a n g e s ,  i n s u l a t i o n  i s  e s p e c i a l l y  v a l u a b l e  i n  a  c l i m a t e  a s  v a r i a b l e  a s  
t h a t  o f  I l l i n o i s .  
L o c a t i n g  t h e  h o u s e .  A  g o o d  l o c a t i o n  f o r  a  p o u l t r y  h o u s e  p r o ­
v i d e s  f o r  ( 1 )  a  w e l l - d r a i n e d  s o i l ,  ( 2 )  f r e e  c i r c u l a t i o n  o f  a i r  a r o u n d  t h e  
b u i l d i n g ,  ( 3 )  s o u t h e r n  e x p o s u r e  f o r  s u n l i g h t  o n  t h e  w i n d o w s ,  ( 4 )  p r o ­
t e c t i o n  f r o m  p r e v a i l i n g  w i n d s  i n  w i n t e r ,  ( 5 )  p o s s i b i l i t y  f o r  f u t u r e  
e x p a n s i o n  o f  h o u s e  a n d  y a r d s ,  ( 6 )  s e p a r a t i o n  f r o m  s e r v i c e  b u i l d i n g s  
a n d  b a r n y a r d s ,  a n d  ( 7 )  g r e a t e s t  c o n v e n i e n c e  i n  d a i l y  c a r e  a n d  m a n ­
a g e m e n t .  
C o n v e n i e n c e  a n d  s a n i t a t i o n  a r e  i m p o r t a n t  c o n s i d e r a t i o n s  i n  t h e  
a r r a n g e m e n t  o f  p o u l t r y  y a r d s .  A  d o u b l e - y a r d i n g  s y s t e m  i s  r e c o m ­
m e n d e d ,  s o  t h a t  h a l f  t h e  r a n g e  a r e a  m a y  b e  i n  c r o p s  e a c h  y e a r .  T h i s  
p r a c t i c e  w i l l  a i d  m a t e r i a l l y  i n  r e d u c i n g  l o s s e s  i n  t h e  f l o c k  f r o m  
p a r a s i t e s  a n d  d i s e a s e s .  
M a n a g e m e n t  o f  h o u s e .  A  h o u s e  b u i l t  a c c o r d i n g  t o  t h e  p l a n s  i n  
t h i s  c i r c u l a r  w i l l  p r o v i d e  a d e q u a t e  v e n t i l a t i o n  i f  o n l y  t h e  r e c o m m e n d e d  
n u m b e r  o f  b i r d s  i s  k e p t  i n  i t .  G a b l e  v e n t i l a t o r s  s h o u l d  b e  k e p t  o p e n  
a t  a l l  t i m e s  e x c e p t  i n  s e v e r e l y  c o l d  w e a t h e r ,  a n d  e v e n  t h e n  t h e y  s h o u l d  
n o t  b e  e n t i r e l y  c l o s e d .  T h e  n u m b e r  o f  w i n d o w s  t h a t  i t  i s  a d v i s a b l e  t o  
k e e p  o p e n  w i l l  d e p e n d  u p o n  w e a t h e r  c o n d i t i o n s .  
T h e  2  t o  3  f e e t  o f  l o o s e  s t r a w  n e e d e d  i n  t h e  1 0 f t  m a y  b e  l e f t  t h e r e  
i n d e f i n i t e l y .  T h e r e  s h o u l d  b e  n o  t r o u b l e  f r o m  l i c e  o r  m i t e s  g e t t i n g  
i n t o  t h e  s t r a w  i f  s a n i t a r y  c o n d i t i o n s  a r e  m a i n t a i n e d  a n d  s p a r r o w s  a n d  
p i g e o n s  a r e  k e p t  o u t .  
S i z e .  T h i s  2 0 - b y - 4 0 - f o o t  h o u s e  i s  d e s i g n e d  f o r  2 0 0  b i r d s .  A  
c e n t e r  p a r t i t i o n  d i v i d e s  t h e  h o u s e  i n t o  t w o  1 0 0 - b i r d  u n i t s .  A t  l e a s t  4  
s q u a r e  f e e t  o f  f l o o r  s p a c e  i s  r e c o m m e n d e d  f o r  e a c h  b i r d ;  o v e r c r o w d i n g  
u s u a l l y  r e s u l t s  i n  d a m p n e s s ,  d i s e a s e ,  a n d  f e w e r  e g g s .  
E q u i p m e n t .  T w o  m e t h o d s  o f  r o o s t  c o n s t r u c t i o n  a n d  d r o p p i n g s  
d i s p o s a l  h a v e  p r o v e d  s a t i s f a c t o r y :  r o o s t s  m a y  b e  h i n g e d  t o  t h e  w a l l  
o v e r  a  d r o p p i n g s  b o a r d  a b o v e  t h e  f l o o r  ( t h e  m e t h o d  s h o w n  o n  t h i s  
p l a n ) ,  o r  r o o s t s  m a y  b e  b u i l t  o n  a  w o o d - f r a m e  w i r e - c o v e r e d  p i t  t h a t  
I D .  G .  C A R T E R ,  P r o f e s s o r  o f  A g r i c u l t u r a l  E n g i n e e r i n g ;  a n d  H .  H .  A L P ,  A s s o c i a t e  P r o ·  
f e s s o r  o f  P o u l t r y  E x t e n s i o n .  
rests on the floor. About 20 nests are needed for each 100 birds, or 
two sections of 20 nests each for the house.1 
Water supply and drainage. A freeze-proof hydrant and a floor 
drain are recommended for each 20-by-20-foot unit. A floor slope of 
;4 inch to the foot toward the drain is adequate. 
Electric lights. Four 40-watt lamps are needed for this house 
(1 watt of lamp capacity for every 5 square feet of floor space). For 
all-night lighting 10- to IS-watt lamps are recommended. These 
amounts of light will be effective in increasing winter egg production. 
Lamps suspended 6 feet above the floor and 7 feet from the front 
wall of the house and provided with reflectors will give the best dis­
tribution of light on the floor. Lamp holders may be of porcelain or 
composition material. The lamps should be equipped with individual 
pull-chain switches and so connected that all will operate from a single 
switch. An appliance outlet in each unit is a desirable addition. 
All wiring should be installed by experienced workmen and accord­
ing to the requirements of the National Electric Code. 
Foundation and floor. The foundation and floor measurements 
are indicated on the plan. Anchor bolts, ;1" x 16", spaced at intervals 
of 6 to 8 feet, attach the sill to the foundation. Water supply and 
drain lines are placed before the floor is laid. A 4-inch fill will raise 
the floor above the surrounding ground and thus secure a dry floor. 
Concrete of good quality for the foundation and floor is made in the 
proportion of 1 sack of cement, 2Y4 cubic feet of sand, and 3 cubic 
feet of gravel. Approximately 5;1 gallons of water per sack of cement 
is recommended. 
Framework and covering. The plans indicate conventional 
wood-frame construction, with 2" x 4" sill, wall studs, and plates, and 
2" x 6" rafters and ceiling joists. The blueprint illustrates narrow 
eaves, narrow roof projection, and boxed cornice. Gutters and down­
spouts are especially recommended for the south side of the house. 
Framing members are spaced 24 inches apart on centers for horizontal 
siding. If vertical siding is used, the maximum stud spacing is 4 feet 
on centers, and 2" x 4" nailing girts are necessary midway between 
the sill and plate. 
Approximate Quantities of Material 
The quantities of materials required for this building will vary with 
changes in plan, substitution of materials, kind of roofing, quality of con­
crete, land slope, experience of the builder, and other factors. The cost 
lMore complete details of construction, roosts, nests, droppings board, and 
pit are shown in blueprint plan No. 404-2. This plan and Circular 506, Poultry 
Equipment, may be secured by writing to the University of Illinois, College of 
Agriculture, Urbana. 


d e p e n d s  u p o n  t h e  k i n d s  a n d  g r a d e s  o f  m a t e r i a l  s e l e c t e d  f o r  t h e  b u i l d i n g ;  
c o s t  f i g u r e s  a n d  e x a c t  m a t e r i a l  l i s t s  c a n  b e s t  b e  m a d e  b y  a  c a r p e n t e r ,  
c o n t r a c t o r ,  o r  d e a l e r  i n  t h e  c o m m u n i t y .  
T h e  f o l l o w i n g  l i s t  o f  t h e  p r i n c i p a l  m a t e r i a l s  r e q u i r e d  w i l l  s e r v e  a s  a  
g u i d e  t o  p l a n n i n g  a n d  p u r c h a s i n g .  
M a s o n r y  
A p p r o x i m a t e l y  1 3  c u b i c  y a r d s  o f  c o n c r e t e  a r e  r e q u i r e d .  
F o u n d a t i o n :  3 5  s a c k s  c e m e n t ,  3  c u .  y d s .  s a n d ,  4  c u .  y d s .  g r a v e l  
F l o o r :  4 7  s a c k s  c e m e n t ,  4  c u .  y d s .  s a n d ,  5~ c u .  y d s .  g r a v e l  
M e t a l  
R e i n f o r c e m e n t :  ~240 l i n .  f t .  ; . - 2 "  s t e e l  r o d s  ( o r  e q u i v a l e n t )  
A n c h o r s :  1 ; . - 2  d o z .  ; . - 2 "  x  1 6 "  b o l t s  
R i d g e  r o l l :  4 2  l i n .  f t .  
N e t t i n g  i n  l o f t :  7 0 0  s q .  f t .  2 "  p o u l t r y  w i r e  
N a i l s :  A b o u t  1 2 5  I b s . ,  v a r i o u s  s i z e s  
F r a m i n g  
A b o u t  1 , 8 0 0  b o a r d  f e e t  o f  f r a m i n g  w i l l  b e  r e q u i r e d ,  c o n s i s t i n g  o f  t h e  f o l ­
l o w i n g  i t e m s  c a l c u l a t e d  w i t h  s o m e  a l l o w a n c e  f o r  e x t r a s .  
P l a t e s  a n d  s i l l s :  4 2 0  l i n .  f t .  2 "  x  4 "  . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 0  b d .  f t .  
S t u d d i n g :  4 4  p e s .  2 "  x  4 "  x  1 2 '  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 2  b d .  f t .  
]  o i s t s  :  1 2  p c s .  2 "  x  6 "  x  2 0 '  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 0  b d .  f t .  
R a f t e r s :  4 2  p c s .  2 "  x  6 "  x  1 4 '  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 8 8  b d .  f t .  
R a f t e r  t i e s :  5  p c s .  I "  x  6 "  x  1 6 '  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4 0  b d .  f t .  
R i d g e :  4 2  l i n .  f t .  2 "  x  6 "  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  4 2  b d .  f t .  
]  o i s t  s u p  p o r t s :  1 0  p c s .  1 "  x  4 "  x  1 0 '  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . .  3 4  b d .  f t .  
L o f t  f l o o r  s t r i p s :  5 2  p c s .  I "  x  4 "  x  1 0 '  . . . . . . . .  1 7 2  b d .  f t .  
C o v e r i n g  
T h e r e  a r e  s e v e r a l  c h o i c e s  o f  m a t e r i a l s  f o r  e a c h  o f  t h e  f o l l o w i n g  i t e m s .  
R o o f i n g :  1 1  s q u a r e s  
R o o f  s h e a t h i n g :  1 , 2 7 4  b d .  f t .  m a t c h e d  b o a r d s ,  i f  l a i d  s o l i d .  F o r  w o o d  
s h i n g l e s  7 2 8  b d .  f t .  r o o f  b o a r d s  a r e  n e e d e d ;  f o r  m e t a l  r o o f i n g ,  4 0 0  b d .  
f t .  o f  2 "  x  4 "  a t  a  2 - f o o t  s p a c i n g  i s  u s e d  f o r  p u r l i n  d e c k  
S i d i n g :  8 4 0  b d .  f t .  m a t c h e d  d r o p  s i d i n g  o r  s i m i l a r  m a t e r i a l  
I n t e r i o r  s h e a t h i n g :  3 3 0  b d .  f t .  m a t c h e d  b o a r d s  
M i s c e l l a n e o u s  
T h e  f o l l o w i n g  e q u i p m e n t  a n d  m a t e r i a l s  r e q u i r e d  t o  c o m p l e t e  t h e  h o u s e  
s h o u l d  b e  i t e m i z e d  b y  t h e  b u i l d e r  o r  d e a l e r :  
3  d o o r s  ( 2 '  6 "  o r  4 '  0 " )  D r o p p i n g s  b o a r d  a n d  f r a m e  
2  v e n t i l a t i n g  l o u v e r s  1 6 0  l i n .  f t .  p e r c h e s  
4  c e l l a r  s a s h  w i n d o w s  F l o o r  d r a i n s  a n d  t i l e  
4  s i n g l e - s a s h  e n d  w i n d o w s  E l e c t r i c  w i r i n g  
8  d o u b l e - s a s h  f r o n t  w i n d o w s  
W a t e r  l i n e s  
O u t s i d e  t r i m  b o a r d s  
4  g a l .  p a i n t  
4 0  n e s t s  
G u t t e r s  a n d  d o w n s p o q t s  
U r b a n a ,  I l l i n o i s  
A p r i l ,  1 9 4 2  
C o o p e r a t i v e  E x t e n s i o n  W o r k  i n  A g r i c u l t u r e  a n d  H o m e  E c o n o m i c s :  U n i v e r s i t y  o f  I l l i n o i s ,  

C o l l e g e  o f  A g r i c u l t u r e ,  a n d  t h e  U n i t e d  S t a t e s  D e p a r t m e n t  o f  A g r i c u l t u r e  C o o p e r a t i n g .  

H .  P .  R U S K ,  D i r e c t o r .  A c t s  a p p r o v e d  b y  C o n g r e s s  M a y  8  a n d  J u n e  3 0 ,  1 9 1 4  

2 8 M - 4 - 4 2 - 2 3 4 4 5  


https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/33320/1104684.pdf?sequence=2

Two-unit straw-loft poultry house

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

IDEALS @ Illinois

Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship Repository