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Radiant or Panel Heat for Brooding Chicks1
Radiant or Panel Heat for Brooding Chicks1 D . C.
HENDERSON
Poidtry Department, University of Vermont, Burlington (Received for publication October 11th, 1949)
"Another remarkable feature is the thermal storage of the structure, for it is found that if the oil furnaces are turned off, it takes 36 hr. for the temperature in the cathedral to fall 1QF. It has been found in actual operation throughout the winter, that if the fires are operated for a few hours only each day, the temperature change is so small it cannot be detected on the thermometer, regardless of any change in the outside temperature." The first sizable floor-type radiant heating system in America was installed in a garage built in Chicago in 1912, Byers (1947). Research by iron manufacturers, commercial feed companies, and experiment stations has since shown the effectiveness of radiant heating for public buildings and private dwellings, as well as farm structures (Adlam, 1947; Byers, 1947, 1949; Penn. State College, 1947; Hurd, 1948; Robertson, 1947).
HE principle of radiant or panel heating has been used for many years. It is claimed that the Romans were using this system of heating in the vicinity of Bath, England, shortly before the birth of Christ. History records that hot gases from charcoal fires were circulated through ducts to warm walls and floors. Adlam (1938) reported on the use of radiant heat in Liverpool Cathedral in England as follows: "The height of the Cathedral inside is about 113 ft. and the triforium walking way which is carried along both sides at a height of 97 ft. above the floor makes it possible to make very accurate observations of air conditions at high level. When the temperature of the air taken at 4 ft. above the floor was 60°F., it was found that the air temperature at the triforium level, more than 90 ft. above, was 58§°F. —just \%°¥. lower than at 4 ft. above the floor. It seems to me that no other known method of heating could create these ideal conditions in such a high building, because I have conducted tests in similar cathedrals where warm air systems have been installed and the temperature at high level is much too hot to be comfortable. It has been found after several years experience that the inside temperature of 58 to 60°F. gives perfect comfort under all outside conditions, and is an ideal temperature for the organ—which is one of the largest (if not the largest) in England.
PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR DEVELOPING A POULTRY PLANT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT,
1 Printed by permission of Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station; Journal Series Paper No. 8.
In 1945 the Vermont legislature appropriated money for "building and equipping a poultry plant at the University of Vermont." This plant was to be used for the purpose of teaching, research, and demonstration. A committee representing farm flockowners, commercial poultrymen, breeders, feed manufacturers, processors and packers, regulatory officials, and educational agencies developed plans. The committee met several times and revised the plans
299
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
T
300
D. C. HENDERSON
f
. *
until it reached the finished product. The poultry plant was near enough to completion so that it was put to use in February, 1947, almost two years after the money was appropriated.
4 inches of rock wool between the studding. Furthermore, the building is lined with a composition board that is impregnable to the beaks of the chickens. The basement houses the heater.
T H E BROODER HOUSE
FLOOR-HEATED P E N
The brooder house is a permanent building 30 feet wide and 102 feet long. There is a 5-foot alleyway in the rear of the structure. A classroom 30 feet square at one end of the building is a valuable part of the structure. Separating this classroom from Pen 1 is a plate glass extending from the ceiling to within 2 feet of the floor. In other words, it is possible for the students to observe the growing birds from the classroom. The building is well insulated. There is
The pens in the brooder house are 25 feet wide and 24 feet long. Pen 2 (Fig. 1) is heated by pipes in the floor. Pens 1 and 3 (Figs. 2 and 3) are heated by hot water coils under individual canopies. It is the radiant heat in Pen 2 with which this report is primarily concerned. The water in the boiler is kept at from 120° to 140°F. Between the check valve and the boiler there is an electrically operated centrifugal pump of approximately 1/10 horse power. This pump is
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
• ' . ' . . .
FIG. 1. Wrought-iron pipes built into the concrete floor provide even heat in all parts of this brooder pen.
RADIANT OR PANEL HEAT FOR BROODING CHICKS
FIG. 2. Heat in pens 1 and 3 is provided by hot water coils under individual canopies.
FIG. 3. The canopy over the hot water coils can be lowered to provide greater warmth.
gives the layout for the radiant heat system. For the coils lj-inch wrought-iron pipe was spaced one foot apart on center. Twoinch headers were used. The coil sections were welded. The lj-inch pipe, of course, carries more water than a 1-inch pipe. In addition, there is less friction in a pipe of this size. No expansion joints were put in the floor because wrought-iron pipe expands at practically the same rate as concrete. Wrought iron was used because of its corrosion resistance. In the construction of this pen, a fill of a minimum of 6 inches of gravel was used. It is not advisable to lay pipe on cinders because of excessive corrosion. Furthermore, it is not desirable to imbed the pipes in sand as this would tend to reduce the radiating surface of the pipe. After the two coils were in place and before the concrete was poured, the entire system was subjected to a severe test to make sure that there were no leaks.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
operated on the 110-volt ordinary commercial circuit and is fluctuated by a relay. In the relay box is a transformer which produces a 12-volt circuit which leads to the thermostats. These thermostats have a terminal set in the concrete so the temperature of the concrete governs the opening and closing of the thermostats. The thermostats can be set to close at any temperature within a certain range, which is approximately from 40° to 110°F. When the temperature in the concrete drops below the desirable temperature, the hot water is caused to circulate through the floors which have become too cool. The floor-heated pen is heated by two separate and distinct coil sections. In other words, it is possible to have the heat turned on in the back one-half of the house and to have the heat turned off in the front one-half of the house, or vice versa. Likewise, the heat can be on for the entire pen or off, as desired. Figure 4
301
302
D. C. HENDERSON
temperature of, roughly, 85°F., 6 inches from the floor. This "rule of thumb" guide depends upon outside weather conditions. If the chicks move about freely during the day and spread out comfortably at night, it is assumed that the temperature is correct. Crowding is reduced to a minimum. There is even heat in all parts of the pen.
r 12 VOLT CIRCUIT
I T " PIPE RELAYS
Lt&J.
LAID I' CENTER
TO
CENTER
r Jj
^ § L _ ^ . C O L D J
©A
©E
FIG. 4. Layout for radiant heat system for concretefloor24 by 25 feet heated by hot water in 1J inch wrought-iron pipe laid 1 foot apart (center to center). C = check valve, open when pump operates. V=manually operated cut off valve. Ti=thermometers which indicate temperature of concretefloor.T2=thermostats which govern temperature. MANAGEMENT IN FLOOR-HEATED PEN
From 1 to 1§ bales of shavings are used in a pen. It is desirable to have a very light coating of litter. Deep litter blankets the heat. It may be necessary, after the chicks are a few weeks old, to remove some of the litter. C. J. Porter of Winooski, Vermont, has a 2-story floor-heated brooder house 24 feet wide and 120 feet long. He does not use litter in starting the birds. The day-old chicks are started at a
Consequently, there is no particular reason for crowding. Table 1 gives the temperature readings made during the winter of 1947. These show that the temperature in the floorheated pen was more uniform than in the individual canopy pens. It was noted, also, that the chicks were more comfortable. FLOOR HEATING AND COCCIDIOSIS The fact should be stressed that radiant heat has not proved insurance against an
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
The entire piping arrangement was subjected to a hydraulic pressure of over 125 pounds per square inch for several hours. The floor was now ready for pouring the concrete. The top of the pipe is one inch below the floor surface. The concrete was poured and "floating" was done almost immediately. The heat was on when the concrete was poured.
303
RADIANT OR PANEL HEAT FOR BROODING CHICKS
TABLE 1.—Radiant heat in brooding chicks, University of Vermont, 1947
Date
Penl
Pen 2
Hot water coils (°F.)
Floor-heated pen (°F.)
Outdoor temperature (° F.) High
Low
Low
Variation
High
Low
Variation
Feb. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
81 82 82 76 78 78 82 85
70 72 63 62 63 63 68 69
11 10 19 14 15 15 14 16
74 81 80 72 74 76 70 72
66 65 60 66 70 70 60 66
8 16 20 6 4 6 10 6
30 21 12 15 21 27 23 4
2 -18 -20 -16 -12 - 3 - 2 -19
10 11 12 13 14 15
88 86 86 80 82 77
72 68 70 62 70 68
16 18 16 18 12 9
68
60
8
— — — —
— — — —
— — —
15 24 32 33 42 19
-26 -17 5 1 12 5
Average
14.5
outbreak of coccidiosis. To the contrary, the first attack of coccidiosis observed in the new brooder house at the University of Vermont occurred in the floor-heated pen. Some operators have even gone so far as to claim that the delay in the onset of coccidiosis brought about by the use of floor-heated pens may actually be detrimental, Quigley (1948). Results from pen 2 show that radiant heat prevents crowding, keeps the birds comfortable, and also maintains dry conditions in the litter. With regard to growth, the first two broods of chicks started in 1947 averaged slightly more than 3 | pounds each at 13 weeks of age. These chicks were raised on the regular commercial chick-growing ration. They were not on the so-called high-energy, low-fiber diet. Since that time, rate of growth has been stepped up. A. M. GOODNOW'S EXPERIENCE
The A. M. Goodnows of Brandon, Vermont, after a careful study of brooding systems, built a floor-heated brooder
—
91
house three years ago. This is a one-story structure, 36 feet wide and 220 feet long with a 4-foot alleyway through the center of the building. The oil-burning boiler is located in the basement under one end of the brooder house. The Goodnows are primarily turkey growers. However, during the "off season" when the building is not being used for turkeys it is used for raising fryers and roasters. Below is given a report on one lot of chickens started by the Goodnows on December 23, 1948: No. chicks started No. chickens marketed Percent marketed Age when marketed Avg. weight when marketed Fuel consumption Total fuel cost Fuel consumption per bird marketed
7,592 7,160 94.3 13 weeks, 5 days 4 pounds 2 oz. 5,131 gallons $695.74 $0,097
During the 1949 turkey season, the Goodnows hatched a total of 11,700 poults. Mortality up to June 29 was 4 per-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
High
304
D. C. HENDERSON
cent. The poults were started on April 8. The total fuel consumption for the 1949 turkey growing season from April 8 to June 29 was 3,381 gallons. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES Adlam, T. N., 1938. Cathedral heated by underfloor system. Heating, Piping, and Air Conditioning 10: 464-165. Adlam, T. N., 1947. Radiant Heating. Industrial Press, New York. pp. 100-102. Byers, A. M., Company, 1947. Wrought iron for radiant heating. A. M. Byers Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. Byers, A. M., Company, 1949. Byers radiant heating in poultry houses. A. M. Byers Co., Pittsburgh, Pa-. Hurd, L. M., 1948. Brooding chickens with radiant heat. Cornell Ext. Mimeo. leaflet 188. Pennsylvania State College, 1947. Hot water brooding systems. Penn. Agr. Ext. Service. Quigley, G. D., 1948. Underfloor radiant heat for brooding. Maryland Poultry Yearbook, pp. 51, 53. Robertson, E. I., 1947. Radiant heating. Red Rose Expt. Farms Bull., Lancaster, Pa.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
1. Plans were developed for a new poultry plant at the University of Vermont by a working committee consisting of members from the various segments of the poultry industry. Included in these plans was a floor-heated pen in the permanent brooder house. 2. The details of construction of the floor-heated pen were, briefly, as follows: (a) Two separate coils of 1 | in. welded pipe spaced 12 inches apart on center. Headers of 2 in. wrought iron. (b) A fill of coarse gravel. (c) Coils imbedded in concrete. Top of the pipe 1 in. below the concrete floor surface. (d) Entire system tested for leaks before the concrete was poured. 3. The temperature in the floor-heated pen has been more uniform than in the individual canopy-heated pens. 4. Floor heating has not eliminated coccidiosis. 5. Crowding has been reduced to a minimum. 6. Growth and performance have been satisfactory. 7. Pens are more easily cleaned because
there are no obstructions such as pipes and partitions. 8. Litter remains uniformly dry over the whole area. 9. A "performance report" on chickens and turkeys raised by the A. M. Goodnows of Brandon, Vermont, shows that mortality is low, fuel consumption is economical, and growth of birds is satisfactory in floor-heated pens. It is the opinion of the author that floor heating is here to stay and will become increasingly popular among poultrymen. The turkey growers and poultrymen in Vermont who are using this method of heating are very enthusiastic about the results up to date.
HENDERSON
Poidtry Department, University of Vermont, Burlington (Received for publication October 11th, 1949)
"Another remarkable feature is the thermal storage of the structure, for it is found that if the oil furnaces are turned off, it takes 36 hr. for the temperature in the cathedral to fall 1QF. It has been found in actual operation throughout the winter, that if the fires are operated for a few hours only each day, the temperature change is so small it cannot be detected on the thermometer, regardless of any change in the outside temperature." The first sizable floor-type radiant heating system in America was installed in a garage built in Chicago in 1912, Byers (1947). Research by iron manufacturers, commercial feed companies, and experiment stations has since shown the effectiveness of radiant heating for public buildings and private dwellings, as well as farm structures (Adlam, 1947; Byers, 1947, 1949; Penn. State College, 1947; Hurd, 1948; Robertson, 1947).
HE principle of radiant or panel heating has been used for many years. It is claimed that the Romans were using this system of heating in the vicinity of Bath, England, shortly before the birth of Christ. History records that hot gases from charcoal fires were circulated through ducts to warm walls and floors. Adlam (1938) reported on the use of radiant heat in Liverpool Cathedral in England as follows: "The height of the Cathedral inside is about 113 ft. and the triforium walking way which is carried along both sides at a height of 97 ft. above the floor makes it possible to make very accurate observations of air conditions at high level. When the temperature of the air taken at 4 ft. above the floor was 60°F., it was found that the air temperature at the triforium level, more than 90 ft. above, was 58§°F. —just \%°¥. lower than at 4 ft. above the floor. It seems to me that no other known method of heating could create these ideal conditions in such a high building, because I have conducted tests in similar cathedrals where warm air systems have been installed and the temperature at high level is much too hot to be comfortable. It has been found after several years experience that the inside temperature of 58 to 60°F. gives perfect comfort under all outside conditions, and is an ideal temperature for the organ—which is one of the largest (if not the largest) in England.
PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR DEVELOPING A POULTRY PLANT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT,
1 Printed by permission of Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station; Journal Series Paper No. 8.
In 1945 the Vermont legislature appropriated money for "building and equipping a poultry plant at the University of Vermont." This plant was to be used for the purpose of teaching, research, and demonstration. A committee representing farm flockowners, commercial poultrymen, breeders, feed manufacturers, processors and packers, regulatory officials, and educational agencies developed plans. The committee met several times and revised the plans
299
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
T
300
D. C. HENDERSON
f
. *
until it reached the finished product. The poultry plant was near enough to completion so that it was put to use in February, 1947, almost two years after the money was appropriated.
4 inches of rock wool between the studding. Furthermore, the building is lined with a composition board that is impregnable to the beaks of the chickens. The basement houses the heater.
T H E BROODER HOUSE
FLOOR-HEATED P E N
The brooder house is a permanent building 30 feet wide and 102 feet long. There is a 5-foot alleyway in the rear of the structure. A classroom 30 feet square at one end of the building is a valuable part of the structure. Separating this classroom from Pen 1 is a plate glass extending from the ceiling to within 2 feet of the floor. In other words, it is possible for the students to observe the growing birds from the classroom. The building is well insulated. There is
The pens in the brooder house are 25 feet wide and 24 feet long. Pen 2 (Fig. 1) is heated by pipes in the floor. Pens 1 and 3 (Figs. 2 and 3) are heated by hot water coils under individual canopies. It is the radiant heat in Pen 2 with which this report is primarily concerned. The water in the boiler is kept at from 120° to 140°F. Between the check valve and the boiler there is an electrically operated centrifugal pump of approximately 1/10 horse power. This pump is
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
• ' . ' . . .
FIG. 1. Wrought-iron pipes built into the concrete floor provide even heat in all parts of this brooder pen.
RADIANT OR PANEL HEAT FOR BROODING CHICKS
FIG. 2. Heat in pens 1 and 3 is provided by hot water coils under individual canopies.
FIG. 3. The canopy over the hot water coils can be lowered to provide greater warmth.
gives the layout for the radiant heat system. For the coils lj-inch wrought-iron pipe was spaced one foot apart on center. Twoinch headers were used. The coil sections were welded. The lj-inch pipe, of course, carries more water than a 1-inch pipe. In addition, there is less friction in a pipe of this size. No expansion joints were put in the floor because wrought-iron pipe expands at practically the same rate as concrete. Wrought iron was used because of its corrosion resistance. In the construction of this pen, a fill of a minimum of 6 inches of gravel was used. It is not advisable to lay pipe on cinders because of excessive corrosion. Furthermore, it is not desirable to imbed the pipes in sand as this would tend to reduce the radiating surface of the pipe. After the two coils were in place and before the concrete was poured, the entire system was subjected to a severe test to make sure that there were no leaks.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
operated on the 110-volt ordinary commercial circuit and is fluctuated by a relay. In the relay box is a transformer which produces a 12-volt circuit which leads to the thermostats. These thermostats have a terminal set in the concrete so the temperature of the concrete governs the opening and closing of the thermostats. The thermostats can be set to close at any temperature within a certain range, which is approximately from 40° to 110°F. When the temperature in the concrete drops below the desirable temperature, the hot water is caused to circulate through the floors which have become too cool. The floor-heated pen is heated by two separate and distinct coil sections. In other words, it is possible to have the heat turned on in the back one-half of the house and to have the heat turned off in the front one-half of the house, or vice versa. Likewise, the heat can be on for the entire pen or off, as desired. Figure 4
301
302
D. C. HENDERSON
temperature of, roughly, 85°F., 6 inches from the floor. This "rule of thumb" guide depends upon outside weather conditions. If the chicks move about freely during the day and spread out comfortably at night, it is assumed that the temperature is correct. Crowding is reduced to a minimum. There is even heat in all parts of the pen.
r 12 VOLT CIRCUIT
I T " PIPE RELAYS
Lt&J.
LAID I' CENTER
TO
CENTER
r Jj
^ § L _ ^ . C O L D J
©A
©E
FIG. 4. Layout for radiant heat system for concretefloor24 by 25 feet heated by hot water in 1J inch wrought-iron pipe laid 1 foot apart (center to center). C = check valve, open when pump operates. V=manually operated cut off valve. Ti=thermometers which indicate temperature of concretefloor.T2=thermostats which govern temperature. MANAGEMENT IN FLOOR-HEATED PEN
From 1 to 1§ bales of shavings are used in a pen. It is desirable to have a very light coating of litter. Deep litter blankets the heat. It may be necessary, after the chicks are a few weeks old, to remove some of the litter. C. J. Porter of Winooski, Vermont, has a 2-story floor-heated brooder house 24 feet wide and 120 feet long. He does not use litter in starting the birds. The day-old chicks are started at a
Consequently, there is no particular reason for crowding. Table 1 gives the temperature readings made during the winter of 1947. These show that the temperature in the floorheated pen was more uniform than in the individual canopy pens. It was noted, also, that the chicks were more comfortable. FLOOR HEATING AND COCCIDIOSIS The fact should be stressed that radiant heat has not proved insurance against an
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
The entire piping arrangement was subjected to a hydraulic pressure of over 125 pounds per square inch for several hours. The floor was now ready for pouring the concrete. The top of the pipe is one inch below the floor surface. The concrete was poured and "floating" was done almost immediately. The heat was on when the concrete was poured.
303
RADIANT OR PANEL HEAT FOR BROODING CHICKS
TABLE 1.—Radiant heat in brooding chicks, University of Vermont, 1947
Date
Penl
Pen 2
Hot water coils (°F.)
Floor-heated pen (°F.)
Outdoor temperature (° F.) High
Low
Low
Variation
High
Low
Variation
Feb. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
81 82 82 76 78 78 82 85
70 72 63 62 63 63 68 69
11 10 19 14 15 15 14 16
74 81 80 72 74 76 70 72
66 65 60 66 70 70 60 66
8 16 20 6 4 6 10 6
30 21 12 15 21 27 23 4
2 -18 -20 -16 -12 - 3 - 2 -19
10 11 12 13 14 15
88 86 86 80 82 77
72 68 70 62 70 68
16 18 16 18 12 9
68
60
8
— — — —
— — — —
— — —
15 24 32 33 42 19
-26 -17 5 1 12 5
Average
14.5
outbreak of coccidiosis. To the contrary, the first attack of coccidiosis observed in the new brooder house at the University of Vermont occurred in the floor-heated pen. Some operators have even gone so far as to claim that the delay in the onset of coccidiosis brought about by the use of floor-heated pens may actually be detrimental, Quigley (1948). Results from pen 2 show that radiant heat prevents crowding, keeps the birds comfortable, and also maintains dry conditions in the litter. With regard to growth, the first two broods of chicks started in 1947 averaged slightly more than 3 | pounds each at 13 weeks of age. These chicks were raised on the regular commercial chick-growing ration. They were not on the so-called high-energy, low-fiber diet. Since that time, rate of growth has been stepped up. A. M. GOODNOW'S EXPERIENCE
The A. M. Goodnows of Brandon, Vermont, after a careful study of brooding systems, built a floor-heated brooder
—
91
house three years ago. This is a one-story structure, 36 feet wide and 220 feet long with a 4-foot alleyway through the center of the building. The oil-burning boiler is located in the basement under one end of the brooder house. The Goodnows are primarily turkey growers. However, during the "off season" when the building is not being used for turkeys it is used for raising fryers and roasters. Below is given a report on one lot of chickens started by the Goodnows on December 23, 1948: No. chicks started No. chickens marketed Percent marketed Age when marketed Avg. weight when marketed Fuel consumption Total fuel cost Fuel consumption per bird marketed
7,592 7,160 94.3 13 weeks, 5 days 4 pounds 2 oz. 5,131 gallons $695.74 $0,097
During the 1949 turkey season, the Goodnows hatched a total of 11,700 poults. Mortality up to June 29 was 4 per-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
High
304
D. C. HENDERSON
cent. The poults were started on April 8. The total fuel consumption for the 1949 turkey growing season from April 8 to June 29 was 3,381 gallons. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES Adlam, T. N., 1938. Cathedral heated by underfloor system. Heating, Piping, and Air Conditioning 10: 464-165. Adlam, T. N., 1947. Radiant Heating. Industrial Press, New York. pp. 100-102. Byers, A. M., Company, 1947. Wrought iron for radiant heating. A. M. Byers Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. Byers, A. M., Company, 1949. Byers radiant heating in poultry houses. A. M. Byers Co., Pittsburgh, Pa-. Hurd, L. M., 1948. Brooding chickens with radiant heat. Cornell Ext. Mimeo. leaflet 188. Pennsylvania State College, 1947. Hot water brooding systems. Penn. Agr. Ext. Service. Quigley, G. D., 1948. Underfloor radiant heat for brooding. Maryland Poultry Yearbook, pp. 51, 53. Robertson, E. I., 1947. Radiant heating. Red Rose Expt. Farms Bull., Lancaster, Pa.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Rutgers University Libraries/Technical Services on June 8, 2015
1. Plans were developed for a new poultry plant at the University of Vermont by a working committee consisting of members from the various segments of the poultry industry. Included in these plans was a floor-heated pen in the permanent brooder house. 2. The details of construction of the floor-heated pen were, briefly, as follows: (a) Two separate coils of 1 | in. welded pipe spaced 12 inches apart on center. Headers of 2 in. wrought iron. (b) A fill of coarse gravel. (c) Coils imbedded in concrete. Top of the pipe 1 in. below the concrete floor surface. (d) Entire system tested for leaks before the concrete was poured. 3. The temperature in the floor-heated pen has been more uniform than in the individual canopy-heated pens. 4. Floor heating has not eliminated coccidiosis. 5. Crowding has been reduced to a minimum. 6. Growth and performance have been satisfactory. 7. Pens are more easily cleaned because
there are no obstructions such as pipes and partitions. 8. Litter remains uniformly dry over the whole area. 9. A "performance report" on chickens and turkeys raised by the A. M. Goodnows of Brandon, Vermont, shows that mortality is low, fuel consumption is economical, and growth of birds is satisfactory in floor-heated pens. It is the opinion of the author that floor heating is here to stay and will become increasingly popular among poultrymen. The turkey growers and poultrymen in Vermont who are using this method of heating are very enthusiastic about the results up to date.