46 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY. 



the under side of the roof, into which lock small hooks driven 

 into the edge of the board. In a coop thus sheltered chickens 

 may be left out in any weather, as we have proved for years. 

 Much depends upon a dry floor, however, and this can only be 

 secured by an inside raised floor. Fig. 1 1 shows the construction. 

 The boards a a are nailed on the pieces of quartering, bb, c c, 

 so as not to reach the edyes, as shown. They are cut such a 

 size also, that the coop fits down on the quartering outside the 

 floor, loosely, all round, the quartering being also sloped off so 

 as not to retain wet under even the edges of the coop. Such 

 a floor will be quite dry in any weather. Or the floor may 

 stand up inside the coop, on the ground. But it is better as 

 drawn, because the long ends of the quartering in front, shown 

 in both figures, are convenient for laying another board upon, 

 on which the food and water can be placed. Or this feeding- 

 board may be hinged to the bottom of the coop, and fastened up 

 at night against the front, to keep all in until attended to in 

 the morning. 



The ordinary basket coop is only fit to be used under a 

 shed, or in perfectly fine weather, when it is convenient to 

 place on a lawn. Some straw, weighted by a stone or other 

 covering, should however be placed on the top, to give shelter 

 from the mid-day sun. 



Chickens should always, if possible, be cooped near grass. 

 No single circumstance is so conducive to health, size, and 

 vigour, supposing them to be decently well cared for. as even a 

 small grass run such as that provided in Fig. 2. Absolute 

 cleanliness is also essential, even more than for grown fowls ; 

 and the reason why difficulty is often experienced in rearing 

 large numbers is, that the ground becomes so tainted with 

 their excrements. The coop should, therefore, either be 

 moved to a fresh place every day, or the dry earth under be 

 carefully renewed. The detached wooden bottom just 

 described should be covered every morning and evening half 



