116 EGG MONEY 



top of the yard and directly under and parallel to the peak 

 of the coop. 



Each yard contains a nest-box, having three or four 

 compartments. This is placed under the coop and close 

 against the side of the yard which is provided with a door 

 through which the attendant reaches the nests to collect 

 the eggs. A feed trough and water fountain, or dish, 

 completes the equipment, the total cost of which need not 

 exceed $2.50, labor included. If properly made and painted 

 it will last several years. Some years ago cotton cloth, 

 both oiled and not oiled, was tried for covering shelters, 

 but it was not found to be practical and all coops are now 

 made of pine. 



Each of these yards with its accompanying coop is 

 intended to accommodate ten to twelve birds and is moved 

 to a fresh spot once a week. By the time that the fourth 

 move has been made the spot first occupied is ready to 

 be used again. 



How the Stock is Secured. 



When the price of eggs begins to drop as the weather 

 opens in the spring most of the New England farmers are 

 willing to dispose of their flocks at any reasonable prices. 

 These fowls are what the summer poultryman wants and 

 he sends men with wagon-loads of coops out to collect 

 them, paying the going market price per pound. Many 

 of these fowls are from late hatches of the preceding sea- 

 son and make good layers during the summer months. A 

 majority of them are thin in flesh, so that hens capable 

 of carrying a generous amount of meat when fat, are secured 

 for the price of small ones. The buyer prefers thin fleshed 

 to fat specimens for the former are more readily put in lay- 

 ing condition and are capable of turning a greater profit 

 when dressed and sold at the end of the season. When 

 the spring is so far advanced that the fowls can be com- 

 fortable in these accommodations, each yard, or pen, is given 

 its dozen birds and the season's work begins in earnest. 



How the Income is Obtained. 



The majority of farmers' hens are lousy and the first 

 important move after the fowls are brought in is to rid 



