Houses for Hens 79 



the ground you know it is dry, and safe from rats. 

 When it is on the ground you hope it is. 



Hope gilds the uncertain stream we venture o'er, 

 But knowledge guides us safe from shore to shore. 



A week ago I saw a chicken coop where fourteen 

 Barred Rock chickens, three months old, were 

 captured by rats in a single night. The coop stands 

 flat on the ground. There might have been a rat 

 family right beneath it, while we viewed the scene, 

 and probably was eating fourteen dollars' worth of 

 chickens. Fourteen dollars buys a good hen house, 

 well equipped. If the coop had been above the 

 ground, the cats could have followed the rats. 

 Now the rats keep house in high style right next 

 the base of supplies. 



If you think it is easier and cheaper to put the 

 house on the ground, read the following instruc- 

 tions from one of the latest professional books: 

 " Excavate the soil inside the house to a depth of at 

 least eight inches. Place a layer of crushed stone, 

 cinders, or coarse gravel eight inches thick over the 

 bottom, tamping thoroughly and leaving it level. 

 Over this place a rough coat of concrete about three 

 inches thick. Put one thickness of tarred building 



