58 POULTRY-CRAFT. 
nailed to the lower edges of the top side rails, the laths put on the top, the last 
lath at the open end being 4 in. from the ends of the side rails; a single strip 
of lath is nailed to the lower edge of the bottom side rails 4 in. from the end, 
and the pen is complete. When coop and pen are placed together, the ends 
of the side rails overlap the sides of the coop, and fitting snugly, hold the pen 
firmly in place. The coop is taken apart by simply taking off the top laths, 
removing braces, and knocking out the end. The spaces between the slats 
should be: on top, 3 in.; on sides, 24 in. for medium to small hens, 3 in. for 
medium to large ones. The material for a coop and pen as shown in the 
figure will cost about fifty cents. 
Cat and Hawk Proof Coop.—Fig. 45 shows a good coop to use where 
cats and hawks are troublesome. The feature of the coop is the pen 2 ft. wide, 
2 ft. high, and 12 ft. long, of lath and covered with 1-inch mesh wire netting. 
Moved to new ground every day or two, this coop makes it possible to raise 
chicks without loss, where, with ordinary coops, losses from the causes 
mentioned would be ruinous. Both houses and pen are ‘ knock-downs.” 
‘he house coop is made of light, 2-in. lumber, each surface making one féece. 
Strips of lath are used as cleats to hold together the boards making a piece. 
When the coop is set up the pieces are secured with screws. Sucha coop, 
with pen, costs, including labor, about five dollars. 
59. Roosting Coop for Growing Chicks.—Fig. 46 shows a roosting 
coop of the general type used for growing stock when on summer range in 
fields and meadows. The front is 
T sometimes all of lath or netting, 
sometimes boarded part way down, 
and sometimes made close with tight 
| door and movable window. <A coop 
7 
Tor 
| 
| 
i 
a | | 
| 
4 =- with the front last mentioned can be 
ee used in cold weather. These roost- 
Fig. 46. Roosting Coop for Growing Chicks. ing coops are usually without floors. 
They should be of a size easily handled — 6 to 8 ft. long, about 3 ft. wide, 
2 to 24 ft. high in rear, and 3 to 34 ft. high in front. Two roosts are placed 
in each pen about a foot from the ground. Coops of this kind can be baught 
in knock-down bundles at reasonable prices. 
60. Incubators.— The large poultry keeper takes it for granted that 
incubators are to be a part of his equipment. A few of the older breeders, 
whose trade is principally in stock and exhibition birds, still hatch with hens; 
but for producing broilers and pullets in quantities for early layers, the 
artificial is the reliable method. On most large plants where hens are used 
their work is complementary to that of the machines. The small poultry 
keeper is often at a loss to know which method of hatching to use. It depends 
on the person as much as on circumstances. Some people cannot run an 
