GB133420A - Improvements in or in connection with Poultry Houses. - Google Patents

Abstract

133,420. Jonason, O. A. R., and Fagerberg, J. H. Ferguson-. Oct. 7, 1918. Poultry houses.-A movable poultry house comprises two lower compartments A, B serving respectively as a scratching compartment and a feeding compartment, and an upper compartment C used as a roosting chamber. The compartment A, which has open-work end and contains grass, straw, &c., is provided with a hinged door a and communicates with the compartment B through an opening b adapted to be closed bv a slide or hinged door. The compartment B contains a rectangular vessel b<2> to form a dust-bath and troughs b<3>, b<5> for water and food respectively, each of these troughs being adapted to be filled from outside the house. The top of the chamber B is provided with a hinged door b<6> which may be thrown back to permit light to enter the chamber, escape of the fowls being prevented by wire netting. The upper chamber C communicates with the chamber A by an inclined plank, a baffle-plate being provided in the entrance to the chamber to prevent a direct draught on the fowl when they are roosting. Perches D are fitted in the chamber above a dropping-board consisting of one or more endless belts mounted on rollers, one of which may be rotated to move the belt by a cranked handle e<1>. An adjustable scraper is provided to remove the droppings from the belt as the handle is rotated, and lime-water or other disinfectant is at the same time applied to the belt at the other end. Springs maintain the belt taut. The droppings removed from the belt fall into a removable receptacle contained in a casing at the front of the house. Nest-boxes H, which can be drawn out, are fitted below the belts. A door C<1> is provided in the front of the chamber C for cleaning purposes. The house can be supported on a frame carrying an arrangement of rollers J so that it may be readily moved. The roller frame may be removed, the house then resting on flaps K hinged round the bottom of the house. A run is hinged to the rear of the house and is adapted to be swung up on its hinges during the moving operation. Spikes are fitted at the bottom of the run to penetrate the ground.