MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I9 



every hen seemed contented. In a day or two 13 eggs were 

 placed under each hen. Every rnorning the hens were Hberated 

 as soon as it was hght, when they would come down of their 

 own accord and burrow in the dry dust on the floor, eat, drink, 

 and exercise, and in twelve or fifteen minutes they would nearly 

 all go back to the. nests voluntarily. In the afternoons one would 

 occasionally be found off the eggs looking out through the 

 slatted door. If she persisted in coming off she was exchanged 

 for a better sitter. The double nest is necessary, otherwise the 

 discontented hen would have no room to stand up, except on 

 her nest full of eggs, and she would very likely ruin them. 

 There was no danger of this with the double nest, as she would 

 step off the nest, go to the door and try to get out. 



The advantages of a closed room in which to confine the sit- 

 ters are many, as the hens are easily controlled and do not need 

 watching as they do when selecting nests for themselves, or 

 when sitting in the same room with laying hens. A room 12 

 feet sc|uare could be arranged so as easily to accommodate 50 

 sitters. 



The most satisfactory arrangement used at the Maine Station 

 for the accommodation of the hen with her brood of young 

 chicks consisted of a closed coop about 30 inches square, with 

 a hinged roof and a movable fl.oor in two parts, which would be 

 lifted out each day for cleaning. This little coop had a wire- 

 covered yard attached to it on the south side. The yard was 4 

 by 5 feet in size and i i-2 feet high. Its frame was of i-incli 

 by 3-inch strips and was fastened securely to the coop. 



The wire on the sides was of i-inch mesh, but on top 2-inch 

 mesh was sufficient. Such a coop is easily kept clean, and the 

 coop and yard can be set oyer upon clean grass by one person. 



The small run will be sufiicient for the first few weeks, but 

 soon the chicks need greater range, and then the fence at the 

 farther end of the run can be lifted up 3 or 4 inches and they 

 can pass in and out at will, while the mother will be secure at 

 home and they will know where to fi.nd her when they get cold 

 or damp or need brooding. Such a coop accommodates 15 to 

 20 chicks until they no longer require brooding, after which 

 several flocks should be combined in one and put in a portable 

 house on a o-rassv range. 



