54 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



thus sheltered, chickens may be left out in any weather, as 

 we have proved for years. Much depends upon a dry floon 

 however, and this can only be secured by an inside raised 

 floor. Fig. 15 shows the construction. The boards a a are 

 nailed on the pieces of quartering, bb, cc, so as not to reach 

 the edges, as shown. They are cut such a size also, that the 



coop fits down on the quarter- 

 ing outside the floor, loosely, all 

 round, the quartering being 

 also sloped off so as not to re- 

 tain wet under even the edges 

 of the coop. Such a floor will 

 be quite dry in any weather. 

 O r the floor may stand up 



Fig. is.-Floorof Coop. inside the COO P> 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. Since we first figured 

 this coop, patterns closely resembling it, or with various 

 modifications, have been catalogued by many manufacturers, 

 and can be bought ready-made at a cheap rate. 



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. 



Chicken's 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. Ab- 

 solute cleanliness is also essential, even more than for grown 



