PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 95 



The rapidly growing corn supplies desirable shade and 

 also helps to keep the independent flocks secluded from 

 one another. Further a considerable crop of grain for 

 winter feeding may thus be obtained. If neither trees 

 nor growing crops can be conveniently provided, screens 

 may be made of the boughs of trees in full leaf or of 

 burlap sacking or cotton cloth, tacked upon frames, sup- 

 ported by posts about two feet high above the ground. 

 These retreats will furnish not only shade 'but also pro- 

 tection from hawks if these enemies are prevalent 



CHICKEN COLONY HOUSES. 



Some simple, suitable shelter is desirable whether 

 the chicks are kept on free farm range or within fenced 

 parks or yards. In some cases the chicks, having been 

 protected by means of comfortably heated brooders In 

 the shelter of sheds or small houses, the first step after 

 brooding age is to remove the hovers and still allow 

 the chicks the use of the brooders. The next step is to 

 take the brooder away, place perches in the shed or 

 house and permit the chicks to occupy these quarters. 

 If the house is portable it may be moved to the pasture 

 or other part of the farm where the chicks are to have 

 their range. Good colony coops may be made out of 

 piano boxes. Jn localities where rye straw is readily 

 grown or easily obtainable, small colony houses may 

 be made of poles, poultry netting and thatch. A frame 

 of poles or joists is made, forming the skeleton of the 

 house. Poles or thin strips of board are laid on the raft- 

 ers and sides to support the thatch. Small sheaves of 

 straight straw are laid on the roof and sides, lapped 

 like shingles and 1 thick enough to shed! rain water. The 

 thatch is fastened 1 . on to the frame work by strands of 

 tarred rope. The front of the structure may be left 

 open or can be protected when necessary by a frame 

 covered with wire netting or cotton cloth or both. 



Shelter, shadte, comfort, coolness, ventilation and at- 

 tractive appearance may thus 'be easily and economically 

 provided by the right combination of a fesv poles, some 

 sheaves of straw, a pound of nails, a few strands of rope 



