THE CALL OF THE HEN. 21 
or more persons (children will do) can take a grain sack by bottom 
side in one hand and top side in the other hand and go into the house 
holding sacks spread apart and moving gently close to the floor or ground 
and drive the hens into the catching-coop. When the coop is full, 
sim down the slide door on outside to prevent hens returning to the 
ouse. 
Fie. 1—Showing hens in house. Note exit in the corner and catching-crate 
placed just outside. They walk into this unconsciously, and this saves them from 
excitement and rough handling. As soon as the crate is filled the door is closed behind 
them. 
Some readers may have long houses, holding five hundred hens 
or more. In this case you will need a panel, run diagonally across 
the house to a point near the opening, where the hens go in and out of 
the house, as in Fig. 1144. This panel can be as long as required for 
the width of the house and made in sections, if desired, and should be 
6 feet or more high. 
Fig. 2 shows hens in the coop. When there are enough in, we 
shut down the slide door and proceed as in Fig. 3. 
Fig. 3. Note the slide door on top of the crate. We open this 
just enough to admit our arm while we grasp the hen firmly by both 
legs, so she can’t twist around and injure herself. A slide door is better 
than a hinged door, as you can open the former just enough to take out 
the hen without so much danger of any of the other hens escaping. 
Be careful not to break wings or tail feathers or to injure the hen. 
