COOPS. 105 



suitable coop to restrain the mother, that 

 she may not lose them in the wet grass, or 

 exhaust their strength in her perpetual search 

 after food. At the same lime, by this con- 

 finement of the mother the chickens are re- 

 stricted in their rambles within certain lim- 

 its, which allow them sufficient exercise, 

 and we are also enabled to give them this 

 food at regular and stated periods. 



Various simple contrivances have been 

 employed for this purpose, such as an old tub 

 turned bottom upward, or a basket or barrel 

 laid on its side, with a few sticks driven into 

 the ground in front. Some use sticks or 

 poles 8 or 10 feet long, driven into the 

 ground in a circle, with the tops tied to- 

 gether. Common empty boxes of any form, 

 with laths nailed in front, are also employed. 



In this climate, the best and most dura- 

 ble are those which are made by nailing 

 boards two feet long together in such a way 

 as to form a triangle about Fig. 7. 



three feet deep, boarding up 

 the back, and nailing laths 

 in front, wide enough apart 

 I 



