210 



THE FARM. 



CHICKEN COOP.— FIG. 1. 



than the Asiatics, and are good winter layers after December and early 

 January. They will lay in the fall if early hatched, but the change of fall to 

 winter, and the gettmg into winter quarters aflfects them, and they seldom 

 commence again before the days begm to lengthen, at which time ijrahmas 

 will cease egg-production and become broody. Where one has the con- 

 venience it is well to keep both kinds, in order to insure a supply of eggs. It 

 is useless to expect many eggs from old fowls of any variety. Have th« 

 buildings ready early, and the fowls of the right age and in condition to 

 kiaure success. The business of our domestic hen is to produce eggs, and 



we must feed her for it. 



A CUicken Coop. 



Nail short pieces of 

 matched boards together 

 as inchcated in the cut; 

 then board up the rear 

 end tightly, and nail nar- 

 row strips of boards or lath 

 in front; put a floor of 

 boards in the back part of 

 the coop, large enough for the hen to brood her young upon, and lay a wide 

 board in front to feed upon, as long as the width of the coop. The coop 

 should be at least two feet liigh, and from two to three feet deep. The board 

 in front may be turned up at night to prevent the young against rats, cats, 

 etc., and should remain in the morning until the dew is off from the grass. 

 The coop should be moved every two or three days to a clean place. The 

 second engraving shows a coop of another construction, the tight apartment 

 at the end with a slide door to let down every evening, keeps the littl^ 

 inmates secure from all enemies. A few auger holes must bo made for ven- 

 tilation. The front is a 

 simple frame, with lath 

 attached at sufficient dis- 

 tances to allow the chickens 

 to pass through. The top 

 should be made separate, 

 and attached to the side by 

 leather hinges. 



Feeding and liaying. 



— The best of feed some- 

 times fails to induce the hens 

 to lay. This is not because 

 the fowls do not got enough, 



but because it is not the kind they desire. It may bo feed consisting of 

 everything that serves to satisfy the demand for egg material, and yet no 

 eggs will be the result. There are several causes for these complaints, one 

 of the principal being the fact that a plentiful supply of pure fresh water is 

 not always within roach, and unless water is plentiful the fowls will not lay. 

 Water being the principal sulistance in an egg, it cannot bo hmitcd. .Unless 

 ^e water can be procured for the egg the fowl cannot lay. And in cold 

 weather it must be so situated as to bo either protected. fi'ora freezing or else 

 have a little warm water added to it occasionally. Now this is a troubld- 

 eouie job in winter, but water will freeze ou cold days, and consoquontly ia 



CHICKEN COOP. — FIG. 2. 



