HATCHING AND REARING 



33 



or slats, part of which should be cleated and hinged to serve 

 as a door. To keep out heavy winds and rain a curtain 

 of burlap or light cotton cloth may be arranged to be but- 

 toned to the front of this coop or rolled and fastened at the 

 top to be let down in severe weather. During the heat of 

 the summer season even such light protection occasionally 

 makes the interior of the coop too warm and a protection 

 built of boards about six by five feet in size may be laid 

 against the front with its base a foot or more away from the 

 base of the coop. This may be fastened to the coop proper- 



A Colony Coop With Open Front and VS^ith a Hood to Protect the 

 Interior From Sun and Rain. 



with hooks and lets in plenty of air while cutting off hard 

 winds and driving rain. No roosts are required in these 

 coops until the chicks are two-thirds grown, when pieces 

 of two-by-three laid flat-wise with the two upper edges 

 rounded may be placed two in each coop. These should be 

 made to fit closely between the ends of the structure and can 

 be supported by cleats nailed to the ends of the coop, eighteen 

 'inches above the floor. The chicks will prosper in such 

 coops until cold weather compels their owner to transfer 

 them to winter quarters. 



