Hubbard's poultry secrets. 19 



When the chickens are big enough for the hen to run With 

 them, which should not be before they are a month old, the 

 slat partition should be pulled forward from the floor, and 

 hooked to the roof. This leaves the whole floor space clear 

 for the hen and chicks. 



The coop should be placed on runners by nailing 2x4s to 

 the bottom ; thus it is much more easily moved around. If 

 you live in a section of the country where hawks, skunks, and 

 cats take your chickens, you will find that a yard arranged as 

 shown in the cut will protect your chickens from the enemies 

 mentioned above. The yard is made in the following way: 



Any length may be used, but the ones I have are sixteen 

 feet long and just the width of the coop. The bottom boards 

 are a foot wide, the two long boards are nailed to the 2x4s on 

 the bottom of the coop. This raises the coop a foot 

 from the ground. The coop should be placed in the cen- 

 ter of the yard. The top board of the yard should be six 

 inches wide and nailed to the side of the coop, leaving a ten- 

 inch space between the top and bottom board. You should put 

 a narrow board upright in each corner of the yards and nail it 

 fast. This will make your yards secure. When you have 

 the two ends nailed on, run a foot wire around the whole 

 yard to cover the ten-inch opening and wire the top, and you 

 have a house and yard that will protect your chickens from 

 rats, cats, hawks, dogs or skunks. 



In a coop and yard of this kind, your chickens can be out in 

 all kinds of weather. I have failed to find a coop that excels 

 this type, for the comfort and protection of the chicks. I find 

 that chickens start better if they are kept in these yards until 

 they are six weeks old. They should be moved the width of 

 the yard twice a week. Two men, one at each end, can move 

 a coop and yard of this size very easily. 



