Station Circular 173
January 1948
O.S.C. Poultry Laying House
By
H. R. SINNARD and W. T. COONEY
circular has been prepared in answer to many requests for
plans and recommendations for an expandable poultry laying
THIS
house designed to house flocks of 500 to 1,000 birds.
The O.S.C. Commercial Laying House was designed for two
250-hen units. By using multiples of the 250-hen construction unit,
flocks of various sizes up to 1,000 birds may be accommodated. If
desired, partition walls may be eliminated in houses made up of two
or more basic units to provide single pens that will accommodate 500
or more birds.
Laying houses of the same general type as the O.S.C. Commercial Laying House have been used by the State College and by
many poultrymen throughout Oregon for the past 23 years.
Floors
Details for the construction of wood or concrete floors for this
house are shown in this folder. Either type of floor is satisfactory.
If floor heating is to be a part of the management program, much
work will be saved if the type of floor heating to be used is decided
upon before the floors are built.
To construct the alternate section with a concrete floor, first
erect a 4-inch foundation wall (6 inches or 8 inches for concrete
block or tile) on a concrete footing 8 inches wide and 4 inches thick
around the outside building line.1 The bottom of the footing at the
shallowest point should be 12 inches below the outside ground line
(finish grade line).
The foundation wall should extend 6 to 12
inches above the finish floor, depending upon the type of litter management to be used. The higher wall is needed to keep wood framing
out of contact with deep litter: Make the minimum height of the
foundation wall 8 inches above the outside finish grade line.
ii
Place anchor bolts for a wood sill in the foundation wall at the
time the concrete is po ured Bolts x 12 inches spaced 6 to 8 feet
apart are satisfactory. To protect wood sills from possible moisture
in the concrete, place one or more thicknesses of asphalt roofing
the width of the sills over the top surface of the foundation wall
before the sills are put in place and bolted down.
To prevent settling of the floor or foundation, remove tree
roots, yegetation, and all top soil over the area to be occupied by a
concrete floor. Try to ke ep the disturbance of sub-soil to a minimum.
Sub-soil disturbed in the removal of roots and other organic objects
Iiould he packed down again.
After the foundation walls are in place spread gravel to a depth
of about 4 to 5 inches over the area within the walls except under
partitions, where gravel should be only 3 inches deep. This allows
a thicker concrete floor beneath partitions. The gravel sub-base
should be rammed or packed.
Place an asphalt-treated insulation board inch thick and approximately 4 inches wide around the inside of the foundation wall
in a vertical position as an expansion joint and for insulation. A
layer of asphalt water-proofing paper over the gravel is desirable.
Pour approximately 3!r inches of concrete over the paper and gravel
fill. The insulation board acts as an expansion joint and a nonconductor of heat from the slab floor. To make hosing and cleaning
the floor easier, slopethe floor to the drains in the front and rear
walls. A slope of about inch to the foot is enough.
Provide air vents as shown in the elevations, if you use a concrete or tile foundation wall around the outside edges (perimeter)
of the building to support wood floor joists. All wood girders should
be at least 12 inches above the ground.
Walls
Notice the framed openings in the upper part of the front wall.
These can be closed by means of vertical sliding frames covered with
glass substitute or muslin. When not in use, these frames may be
lowered into a pocket in the wall to protect them from damage. Here
is a convenient way to adjust the frames. Fasten a rope to the center
of the top of each frame. Run the rope through a pulley near the
ceiling. By manipulating the rope, the frames can be drawn into any
position and held there.
On the rear windows you have a choice. They may be omitted
to reduce the cost, or installed to make the house lighter and to per-
mit better ventilation in hot summer weather. If the windows are
installed, they should be of single strength B grade glass.
if dropping pits are used instead of dropping boards, the windows should be higher, as shown in the drawings.
I44-O
72'-Q"
STGE.
EQUIP
STGE.
EEGG
250 HENS
250 HENS
250 HENS
FEED
ST 0 R AGE
1,000 HEN UNIT
32-0"
8 01
32 0
EGG
STGE
0
250 HENS
250 HENS
c.J
rEED
STGE.
I
500 HEN UNIT
250 HENS
Experience has shown that it is desirable to construct poultry
houses with inside finish material on the walls and ceiling. Such
houses are warmer in winter and cooler in summer than houses with
only exterior finish and are also easier to clean. Note, however,
that the house has been designed so that this feature may be initially
omitted and then added at a later date if so desired.
Ventilation
Two 12-inch circular ventilating shafts with revolving hoods
are needed for each 250-hen basic unit if forced ventilation is not
provided. Gable louver-ventilators with inside-hinged doors should
be placed in the wall ends to provide the necessary attic ventilation.
These doors should be closed in freezing and near freezing weather
and open the rest of the time.
Roof
Shingles, bituminous roofings (roll roofing), galvanized iron,
and aluminum are all satisfactory roofing materials. (For discussion and specifications see Extension Bulletin 540, and U. S. Department of Agriculture Farmers' Bulletin 1751.)
Nests and equipment
Four tiers of open single-type nests are shown on the end wall.
Such an arrangement reduces time spent in gathering eggs.
Roosts
Roosts shown in the plans are 2 x 3 inches with the 3-inch sur-
face flat.
Such an arrangement will be less likely to produce crooked
keels on birds that are inherently weak in this respect or those that
are not in proper mineral balance.
Electric wiring
Vapor-proof fixtures and conduit are required where the walls and ceilings
are to be hosed down. Non-metallic sheathed cable may be used if care is taken
when the house is cleaned and washed. For complete information on regulations for poultry house electric wiring, confer with a licensed electrician or the
State Electrical Inspector, Bureau of Labor, Salem.
A master control switch should be pi-ovided in the feed- room or some
other convenient location for all the lights in a poultry house. Ordinarily
lights are used on laying hens for either a few hours in the morning or a few
hours in the evening. With either method the master switch is necessary.
Evening lights should be dimmed in some way in order to warn the hens
to go to the roost before the lights are turned off completely. Many dimming
devices are in use. In general, dimming is accomplished by placing special
resistance in the lighting circuit.
Space lights as indicated in the drawings and use Q-watt lamps with reflectors. Reflectors should be adjusted to provide direct light on all birds.
5See alternate cross section sheet No. 1 of construction drawings.
Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon State College, Corvallis
2-2*8 GIRDER
I-I6-5/2 SHINGLES
6
33/4 EXPOSURE
IX6 SHEATHING.7'4 0.0.
2X4 RAFTERS-2'-O
2*4 RAFTERS
2-0" 0.0.
O.C.
HOOK
2*4 BLOCKING
2*4 JOISTS
2'.O" O.C.-
N
2*4 BLOCKING
4*4 POSTS
(1/
2-2*4
e'-d' O.C,
/ /
5" a I. GUTTER
2*6 LINTEL
2*8 LINTEL
ROOST IN RAIS
POSITION FOR CL4AN
PLATE
r
PULLEY
4*4 POST
1*4
8.0" 0.0.
OPTIOtMAL I-IO"x 2'-5"
WIN,DW LOCATION
/
SASH CORD
2*8
I *6
//
POULTRY NETTING
I" MESH
1*6 STOP-CASING
FASTEN WITH SCREWS
2*4
HINfE
ST
2'- O
a
'4
I I/
2 MESH
2-1*8
6*6 GIRDER
5GR
1*4 FRAME FOR GLASS
SUBSTITUTE
2-1*8
6*6 GIR
2*6 BLOCK BRIDGING
OVER GIRDERS
DER
CONCRETE
2
DROPPINGS
r
4*4
\\
2 4 SILL
x 4--
2
SUB.SILL
(C. NTINLJQUS
LASS SUBSTITUTE
PIT SECTICN
2*4 SILL
2x8CLFAT
2*4
It
SUB-SILL
PLYWOOD
POCXET FOR
MESH
St
1*3 -
(DETAIL OF HINGED ROOSTS, WOOD
FRAME FLOOR & REAR W4LL SECTION)
2 x2
NETTINS
22
Ix4-
-4-
DROPPINGS PIT SECTION
(DETAIL OF UNHINGED ROOSTS AND
ALTERNATE CONCRETE FLOOR)
WITH
1*2 GUIDES EACH END
2*6 JOISTS-2-O" O.C.-z.-.
CORR.
I
2 CLEAT
2x8 CLEAT
2*4 PLATE
2x0 CLEA
PIPE DRAIN
fl CONCRETE FLOOR
2x4-
16 IA. NETTING
*2
Pt" PIPE
*4 (THIS MEMBER CONTINUOUS
FROM SOLE PLATE TO
LINTEL)
TO PERMIT REMOVAL
1*4 SLIDING FRAME FOR
GLASS SUBSTITUTE
2x4
2*3 ROOSTS
,2x3 RO0STS..
SLIDING FRAME
2x4
(6
(2*3 R00s157
.Pou;TRv4j::Jg
/1MES1
PIPE
SIDING
2*4 STUDS
2'. 0" (1G.
OPT IONAL
WLNDOW
2*2 B UMPER
LOCATION ;
BLOCK
-:
I
2 ASP 1IALT
3 ROQS1-
WEEP HOLES 2 O.0
-
2*6 JOISTS SHIPLAP OR T&G
2'-O" 0.0.
2x6 HEADER
IRON OR
ALUMINUM SHEET
6*6 GIRDER
2
x4
I
2i4
22
2
4
(-2x6)
ANCHOR S1TRAP
2x 4
DI
t2
FLOORING
0
CONCRETE PIER
FRONT WALL- ISOMETRIC VIEW
I',
It.)
PIPE
COOPERATIVE
RESEARCH & EXTENSION WORK IN
AGRICULTURE 8 HOME ECONOMICS
0)
5'
8"..
1.3"
1t
r-s"
rRAPHifcE
1-3"
2*411
FRONT WALL SECTION
OREGON STATE COLLEGE
CORVALLIS, OREGON
DEPTS. OF AGRI. ENG. & POULTRY HUS8ANDRY
SCALE'
12"9' 5" 3" 0
I'
U.S. DEPT.
2
PLAN VIEW OF ROOSTS
PLAN NG. 2.88
SHEET 2 or 2
DESIGNED BY' H. R. SINNARD, R.A.
W.L.GRIEBELER.A.E. : W. T. COONEY. P. H
OREGON
PLAN VIEW OF ROOSTS
COOPERATING
O.S.C. LAYING HOUSE
6-3'
SCALE'
6
OF AGRICULTURE
3'
W. L.G
2" REVOLVING VENTILATOR LOCATION
2z4
2
2x4"ANGLE 'IRON
I-IOx 2-5
OPTIONAL
FOR WIRE SUPPORT
2 X4 RAFTERS - I6'.O LONG. 2-0" 0-C.
BARN SASH
12 GA GALV. WIRE SPACED 2 APART UNDER
ROOSTS.
BOLT TIGHTENERS THROUGH WALL a
(REMOVABLE) FIT WITH SCREEN
( 2x 20* /4
FULL PARTITION (OPTIONAL)
iJiiiiiIn
1
SHEATHING- 1X6 STRIPS 71/2
ANGLE IRON.
LOUVER WITH HINGED DOOR INSIDE
I X3 STRIPS 3/40 C.
OR
2 X 4 RAFTERS - I 2-0' LONG - 2-0" O.C.
O.C.
-.....
6
NO. I- '6- 5/2 SHINGLES
5/4 EXPOSURE
IthVsItlLlflI;ItIIIflhtIlf.IJIiflAI I
2 *4 - 6-8" LONG
P X 4 JOISTS- 2'-O"O.G
:1W'
GUTTER
EGG
TO JOISTS
VENT
CARRIER TRACK
STORAGE ROOM
*3 ROOSTS
2x3 ROOSTS
(INSULATE WALLS,
I'll'."
uiuu
AIR CIRCULATION
FLOOR)
CEILING
2X4 STUD
LOADING
PLATFORM
OPTIONAL
WINDOW
LOCATION
2 X4
2X3 ROOSTS
DROPPING BOARDS1
U
TBG FLOORING WITH /20 ASPHALT COAT
Ofl DOUBLE WOOD FLOOR
tWIRE PORCH
COUGATEO
IME SWITCH
PANEL BOARD, VERTICAL
CEILING OR SIMILAR AIERIAL
'0
ROOM
250 HENS
METAL
S LOPE
FEED
STORAGE
INTERIOR FINISH- PLYWOOD,
SEE FARMERS.
BULLETIN NO. 1172
ALT. RAMP
24-C
-CEILING VENT LOCATION
CROSS SECTION A-
L"FoUNDATION PIERS'EI
B-O
I-lOx 3-5
WINDOW (NO. 877)
O.C. - SEE SECTION
FLOORING'- TG WITH 1/2
ASPHALT COVERING OR
DOUBLE FLOOR WITH RESINPER BETWEEN
SIZED
1/2" X IO'ANCHOR
DOLTS - 8' 0 C,
ALTERNATE NEST LOCATION_
IERTIGAL SLIDING FRAME'
SLOPE
COVERED WITH GLASS SU$;TITUTE
7' DOOR OPENING FOR
CLEANOUT WITH PICKUP
OR MANURE SPREADER
DROPPINGS .
CONCRETE FLOOR
FOUNDATION WALL
OPTIONAL DOOR
ASPHALT EXPANSION JOINT
PIPE DRAIN
CURS
4-5
GRAtL FILL
A
TILE DRAIN
a4'- 0"
LOCATION
5'- fl'
8- 0"
SEE DETAIL SHEET NO.2
ALTERNATE CROSS SECTION
40'- 0"
WITH CONCRETE FLOOR & DROPPINGS PIT
WIRE FLOOR PORCH
16 G NETTING -v.--I" MESH
-t
SCALE
,i 0
I'
2'
3'
5'
V2 FLOOR PLAN
VENTI LATOR
REVOLVING
6. I. RIDGE
DI. RIDGE
LOUVER ON EAOH ENO
GUTTER
:::
- 0..
.._- NO.
I
- 16'- 5/2 SHINGLES - 34" EXPOSURE ---------
SEE EXTENSION BULLETIN NO. 540
AND FARMERS BULLETIN NO. 1751
- II
___
IRON WIRE SIWPOR
_____1II1Ih
.:l :IYtIMp
,11WIRE PORCH
/ERTICAL SLIDING FRAME
COVERED WITH GLASS
SUBSTITUTE.
____
'
-
RAMP
SCREENED VENT
END ELEVATION
51131 MU
L
9 1112
ruNcli ACbESS DOOR
CORNER
--4 rACING
/
PLATFORM
COOPERATIVE RESEARCH & EXTENSION WORK IN
AGRICULTURE S HOME ECONOMICS
GRADE
F
f:0N
7'- 0" RASIfl
OREGON STATE COLLEGE
CORVALLIS, OREGON
PIERSI±f2
& POULTRY HUS8ANDR
U. S. DEPt OF AGRICULTURE COOPERATING
DEPTS. OF AGRI. ENG.
111,111
-1
0.S.C. LAYING HOUSE
FRONT ELEVATION
SHEET
OREGON I PLAN NO. 2.ee
DESIGNED BY. H. R. SIN NARD, R.A.
W. L. G.
I
W,L,GRIEBELER,A.E. ; W.t 000NEY,PH.
or 2