CHAP. V. 



CHICKEN COOPS. 



631 



coop, especially for winter work, is that shown in fig. 185, which is really 

 a double coop, but it is better to make the front and the partition 

 between the coop proper and the covered run of bars, and not solid as in 

 the illustration. 



The object of the coop is to protect the inmates, and keep them dry, 

 therefore the top may be gabled or a simple lean-to. Whether the coop 

 shall have a floor or not depends upon the nature of the soil. If dry, it 

 is a great deal better to dispense with a wooden floor, because the 



184. Chicken Coop. 



inmates will be much warmer than if there is wood between the ground 

 and themselves. On heavy or damp land a floor is necessary, but in 

 that case it should be raised up so that the wood shall not rest upon the 

 earth itself. Two important points are that coops shall be regularly 

 removed on to fresh ground, and that absolute cleanliness shall be 

 observed. When the chickens are about a week old, if there is plenty 



Fig. 185. Portable Chicken-House. 



of room, the hen can be allowed out with them during the day. 

 Chickens are kept in the coops for six or seven weeks, but care must be 

 taken that they are not overcrowded, otherwise they will not thrive 

 nearly so well as would be the case if they have sufficient room. At 

 that age the hen will probably wish to desert them, and they should be 

 removed to a roomy house where they can have plenty of growing space. 

 It must be comfortable without being unduly warm. 



With recent years a great change has come over the methods of 



