174 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



stuff, ten inches wide, with cleats on the ends of each 

 board, make the preferred sides. Two boards may be 

 ten feet long; the other two, three feet, more or less. 

 Two feet of flooring at one end gives always a dry 

 refuge, but the device is helpful without it. A bracing 

 cross strip will be needed at the middle. For baby 

 chicks, it can be used without a screen top ; but since a 

 screen will mean safety from prowlers, it is a wise pre- 

 caution to have one. The screen is best made sepa- 

 rately, and hooked securely to place. Twenty-five chicks 

 may be comfortable and happy for three weeks, under 

 such a screen, if the shelter be moved often. They are 

 better on wider range, of course, when this is available 

 and free ranging is safe. " Hand-raised " chicks can- 

 not wisely be given unlimited liberty, because they 

 have no center to keep them together, as when there 

 is a hen to call them and a place to call " home-and- 

 mother." 



An excellent brood coop, two feet by three feet on the 

 floor with general form like a shed, may have the two 

 back corners cut off, to render it a safer home. If the 

 roof projects and is made to fit over the coop proper, it 

 will give easy access to the floor for cleaning. By 

 cleating, on the under side of the roof, it is made to fit 

 very closely. One third the front may be boarded for a 

 shelter corner, the rest slatted just closely enough to 

 confine the hen, and a netting panel used for night pro- 

 tection. The front section has room behind it for this 

 panel to slide in. The roof is removable. 



Piano boxes, both upright and laid flatwise, are much 

 used by those who can secure them. They cost a little 

 more than half as much as new lumber in some localities. 



