

THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 123 



short pieces of boards together, in such a way as to 

 form two legs of a triangle, the ground answering for 

 the other side. These coops should be at least two 

 feet in height, with one end boarded up tight, and the 

 other secured by nailing strips of boards, or laths, in 

 the form of a grate, leaving sufficient space between 

 them for the free passage of the chicks, without afford- 

 ing liberty to the hen. In front, there should be a 

 broad piece of board, as long as the coop is wide, on 

 which to feed the chickens and hen. This board may 

 be secured to the coop with leather or other hinges, so 

 as to admit of being raised up and closing the coop, 

 towards evening, which will not only answer the pur- 

 pose of guarding the young brood against rats and 

 other enemies during the night, but will prevent them 

 from wandering about the next morning on the dew 

 and wet grass before it is dry. 



The coops should not be located too near each other, 

 as the chickens of different broods are apt to become 

 mixed, or wander to the wrong hen, where they will 

 be repulsed and even killed. Fifty or sixty feet apart 

 will be a sufficient distance, in general, to secure 

 safety to the young broods from injury by other fowls. 



At the expiration of five or six weeks, the hen may 

 be released from her coop, every morning, when the 

 weather is fair, as soon as the grass is dry, and be 

 made to return again in the evening, if she does not 

 come of her own accord, and there be confined during 

 the night. By the end of two or three weeks more, 

 she may have her entire liberty with her brool, and 

 range at pleasure about the yard. 



As the chicks, at first, will hardly be on an equal 

 footing with their older companions, in regard to the 

 distribution of their food, a "feeding coop" may be 

 provided for them by driving small stakes, or laths, 

 into the ground, inclosing a space of two or three yards 

 in diameter, at such distances apart as will admit their 

 entrance, but prevent the ingress of the larger fowls. 



