380 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



ficient supply of air or become overheated. There is no known 

 way to prevent this occurrence and at the same time properly 

 protect the birds against the weather, unless the handlers or 

 messengers of the express company will use reasonable pre- 

 cautions against overlarge stacks and overheated cars. 



Material in Wooden Coops. Wooden coops, as a usual 

 thing, are made with solid sides and bottom and are left as 

 open on the top as possible and still retain the bird or birds. 

 The sides are usually made of three-eighths inch matched lum- 

 ber and the floor of one-half inch, or sometimes thicker boards. 

 A sufficient number of narrow strips cover the tops to keep the 

 birds inside. 



Dimension of Coops. Some shippers make the top higher 

 at the center than on the sides to prevent setting other boxes 

 or packages which interfere with ventilation on top. Raised 

 strips, one at each end, an inch or more thick, are sometimes 

 used to prevent too close packing. This allows some venti- 

 lation, enough in ordinary cases. Open spaces at the top, and 

 on the two sides, two inches or a little more in width are 

 sometimes left and answer the purpose fairly well. 



Elaborate coops of much heavier construction with hinged 

 or sliding tops are often used. These afford, of course, rather 

 more protection, but because they are much heavier, their use 

 increases the cost of transportation very much. 



Shipping White Birds. Birds of white or light colored 

 plumage are usually shipped in coops that are so constructed 

 as to protect them from dust and dirt. This result can be toler- 

 ably well accomplished by taking cheesecloth or a similar 

 fabric to the top of the coop, or by using closed tops and pro- 

 viding more ventilation through the sides. Large openings 

 even on the side should be covered with burlap, cheesecloth, or 

 some material that will prevent dangerous drafts and also, in a 

 measure, keep out the dirt and dust. 



While there is some danger of the plumage becoming soiled 

 while in transit, by the dust and dirt that is in the air, there is 

 also some liability from the coop itself, if it has been in use 

 before. Consequently, all coops should be thoroughly cleaned 

 before receiving the birds. This is a good plan to follow 

 whether shipping to a show or customer. 



The greatest danger to plumage aside from that of breaking 

 feathers is that it will be soiled by the droppings. To prevent 

 this possibility as effectually as possible a bed of some ab- 

 sorbent must be provided. Sawdust or planer shavings answer 



