COOPS FOR HEN AND CHICKENS. 



91 



The materials required are boards half an 

 inch or more thick, and the usual size of twelve 

 feet by nine inches ; a few feet of 2 x 3 " quarter- 

 ing " ; and a few feet of stuff about an inch square 

 for the corners. Most of the boards are cut each 

 into six two-feet lengths ; one for each coop 

 must be cut mto five lengths, for the roof, which 

 is not only on a slant but is meant to project 

 a trifle all round over the sides. Each side 

 requires two whole boards (two feet long) and 

 a half-board cut diagonally ; the back two 

 boards ; these are nailed to corner-posts cut off 

 the inch-square stuff, two pieces of the same 

 being also nailed across the front at top and 

 bottom. The roof-pieces are nailed on, slats 

 cut from one of the same longer boards being 

 tacked over the joins to prevent leakage. The 

 fifth longer board makes the loose shelter-board 

 for the front. This might be hinged ; but we 

 preferred to make it detachable, driving two 

 small wire staples into the under side of the 

 front edge of the roof, into which could be 

 hooked, or released, two small hooks driven in 

 the edge of the board. A small wire staj' kept 

 the bo.ird in position. The front of the coop 

 can be made of thin slats, one of which is 

 movable, though we used thin galvanised wire 

 as shown, because we happened to have a lot 

 of it on hand, left over from some operations 

 in a curiously different line of work. 



The chief modifications made in this coop 

 since, relate to the shelter-board, which by many 

 makers is hinged at the top, and made wide 

 enough to come down entirely over the front, 

 and shut all completely in for the night. The 

 extra width is good, but whenever shutting in 

 is necessary, , on account of field vermin, it is a 

 necessary evil, and ample ventilation holes must 

 be provided. The most complete shelter we 



Fig. 53. — "Gamekeeper's" Coop^ 



have yet met with is provided in one of the 

 designs supplied by Spratt's Patent under the 

 name of the "Gamekeeper's" Coop, at a cost 

 of about 9s. and shown in Fig. 53. In this 

 coop two side shutters entirely close in the 

 front when shut and fastened, the slope at their 

 tops giving a space for ventilation when closed. 

 The shelter-board is made very wide, and is not 

 4iinged, but draws out through a loose slide, 



falling loosely down so as to rest upon the 

 opened shutters. There is thus great protection 

 both against the heavens above and the stro.igest 

 side-winds below, and such a coop affords 

 sufficient shelter for the most exposed situations. 

 There is really more than is necessary for any 

 that is not exposed. 



Fig. 54. — Floor of a Coop. 



The other distinguishing point of our coop 

 was the floor. There can be no doubt at all 

 that where the soil is dry, and a coop can be 

 shifted its own width daily on to fresh ground, 



no better plan can be adopted. 

 Dry Floor Especially is such the best way o( 

 Coops. rearing not only pheasants, but one 



or two of the wilder breeds of 

 poultry, such as Anconas, which seem to pre- 

 serve somewhat of the same wild constitution. 

 But cases are rare amongst ordinary people 

 where this can be done ; and generally other 

 means must be adopted to ensure a clean and 

 dry floor underneath the brood when nestling 

 under the hen. The best method is a raised 

 inside wooden floor, which we provided for very 

 simply in the coop figured above, as shown in 

 Fig. 54. Here three half-inch boards a a are 

 nailed to pieces of 2 x 3 quartering ^ (^ in the 

 manner shown, so as not to reach the edges. 

 If they are cut the proper lengths, it will be 

 readily seen that the coop fits or sits down 

 outside this floor, on the space left of the two 

 timbers. If any of this foundation projects still 

 farther beyond the walls of the coop at all, it 

 should be sloped away, so as not to retain any 

 wet to run under the walls. Such a floor 

 stands up several inches clear of the ground, and 

 must remain dry in any weather. The pieces 

 of quartering are left projecting in front on 

 purpose, in order that a loose piece of board 

 may be placed on them in front of the coop, 

 to serve as a feeding-board for the chickens. 



A floor of this kind can be made to fit any 

 coop of whatever construction, and will save 

 much trouble. It must be covered with loose, 

 dry material, which may be earth, or chaff-dust. 



