THE CALL OF THE HEN. 



29 



or more persons (children will do) can take a grain sack by bottom 

 side in one hand and top side in the other hand and go into the house 

 holding sacks spread apart and moving gently close to the floor or ground 

 and drive the hens into the catching-coop. When the coop is full, 

 shut down the slide door on outside to prevent hens returning to the 

 house. 



FIG. 1 Showing hens in house. Note exit in the corner and catching crate 

 placed just outside. They walk into this unconsciously, and this saves them from 

 excitement and rough handling. As soon as the crate is filled the door is closed behind 

 them. 



Some readers may have long houses, holding five hundred hens 

 or more. In this case you will need a panel, run diagonally across 

 the house to a point near the opening, where the hens go in and out of 

 the house, as in Fig. 1J^. This panel can be as long as required for 

 the width of the house and made in sections, if desired, and should be 

 6 feet or more high. 



Fig. 2 shows hens in the coop. When there are enough in, we 

 shut down the slide door and proceed as in Fig. 3. 



Fig. 3. Note the slide door on top of the crate. We open this 

 just enough to admit our arm while we grasp the hen firmly by both 

 legs, so she can't twist around and injure herself. A slide door is better 

 than a hinged door, as you can open the former just enough to take out 

 the hen without so much danger of any of the other hens escaping. 

 Be careful not to break wing or tail feathers or to injure the hen. 



