38 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
They are about two feet square, and have a six-inch board 
along the front so that the chicks cannot get away from the 
mother. As soon as they are lively enough to fly over this 
board they are moved to a coop such as is shown in Fig. 10, 
where they may have free range. The slat coop in front affords 
the hen opportunity for exercise. This coop is about thirty 
inches square and two feet high in the center. The floor 
draws out and can be easily cleaned, while the door in front 
excludes intruders at night. Ventilation is secured by a few 
small holes in the ends. The slat yard is made of four foot 
lath. One end is closed, the other fitted to the end of the small 
coop. It is not advisable to allow the hen free range for at 
least two weeks. If she is kept confined and fed coarse grains, 
while the chicks are being fed a few yards away on finer grains, 
she will soon forget to call them and probably will start to lay 
in three or four weeks, and at the same time will continue to 
protect the chicks during nights and unpleasant weather. If 
the chicks are to be distributed among several hens, it will be 
advisable to make colonies, care being taken to put those of 
about the same age together. Chicks of different ages should 
not be fed together, since the smaller ones will be crowded from 
the grain and will not thrive. 
Rearing Chicks with Brooders.—Many people prefer the arti- 
ficial method of raising chicks, but want ‘‘ something cheap. 
It is not always wise, however, to use the ‘‘ cheapest.’’ Fig. 11 
shows a brooder made out of an old packing case. A similar 
one which will accommodate fifty chicks can be built for about 
a dollar. This brooder has given excellent results, but must 
be used in a shed or colony house. The brooder proper is made 
of four ten-inch boards, three feet long, on which is nailed a 
tin or galvanized iron cover. Above this, around the sides, 
are strips one inch thick, and on these strips sits the floor of 
the brooder. There should be a couple of one-inch holes in 
each strip to admit air. The floor should be made of matched 
lumber. In the center an eight-inch hole should be cut, and 
over this an old tin pan, about ten inches across at the top 
(which is now to become the bottom) and four inches deep, 
should be placed. The sides of this tin should be punched full 
of holes. For a hover a table two feet six inches square, with 
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