98 AN EGG FARM. 



clinch. Let both ends of each cleat project three inches, 

 and the outside edge of each two inches. This is th'e 

 movable floor, and must be of such size that the coop 

 shall rest entirely upon the projecting ends and edges of 

 the cleats, then when the doors are closed, all rain will 

 be shed outside the floor. In Fig. 35, a section of the 

 coop shows the floor in its place. When the doors are 



FIG. 33. COOP FOR CHICKS. 



closed at night, leave the large one, a, Fig. 33, ajar one- 

 half or one inch, according to the weather, for air, and 

 fasten it with nails for pegs stuck in holes bored at various 

 distances through the cleats, at d d, Fig. 34, which will 

 make the coop perfectly rat-proof. Once a week, after 

 opening the door, a, to enable the chickens to escape 

 through the slats out of the way, slide the coop slowly 

 length wise of the cleats away from the floor, which must 

 be scraped thoroughly ; then give it a shovelful of dry 

 earth and replace. You will always have a dry, inodor- 

 ous apartment, and will not shut up chickens in close, 

 foul air. In every small coop or box for live animals 

 there must be openings for the admission of air and 

 escape of noxious emanations, not only at the top, but 

 at the extreme bottom. This matter is often overlooked 

 in shipping coops, to the great detriment of the occu- 



