The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-14
A SHIPPING COOP.


There are several important things to
consider in making such a coop. II
should be light and yet combine strength.
1t should be roomy and free from
draughts, for the health and comfort of
its occupants, Fine poultry should not
be crowded in coop like market
poultry. Do not have the coop so low
that tho fowls will have their tail feath-
ers and combs rubbed out Of shape and
dishgured, Remember your customers
interests, and make the coop as light as
possible. Imagine yourself in his place.
You would not want to pay double first
class rates on coop weighing twenty
pounds, and containing a trio of birds
weighing only twelve pounds.
If the birds Though scoring 95 points
are shipped in box (as is often the case)
that is too low and twice too heavy, they
will likely arrive at their destination
with feathers ragged, broken and pulled
out, comb scratched and turned over,
express charges about equal to cost Of
fowls-a very mad customer the result.
All this can be avoided. A coop for O
trio of birds should weigh from five to
eight pounds; for a breeding pen eight
to twelve pounds. We illustrate on this
page coop that gives general satsfac-
ton. To make such q box you need
some light soap, starch or cracker boxes
for the body, and a large white pine dry
goods box for standards. Soap boxes are
generally eighteen inches wide, thirty
long and seven or eight high. a box this
size will make coop of proper size for
pen Of Leghorns or other small breeds,
or trio of Americans or Asiatics. Saw
the box so as to make two bottoms and
one top frame. Saw the standards Corner
posts out of board taken from q white
Pine dry goods or other light wooded
box. Mako them one and half to two
inches wide, and twenty to twenty-five
inches in height or length. Use wrought
or wire nails for lacking on the standards
so that they can be clenched. Put two to
three nails in each side through the
standard. Get five cent pint or quart
tin cup, fruit or fish can and fasten to the
inside of one of tho standards with two
nails-fasten so that the top of cup will
be on q level with the birds back.
Use muslin, unbleached sheeting, drill
ing or common bran sacks for the sides,
stretch tight and tack on with broad
headed carpet lacks. Use common plas-
tering laths or other small light pieces
for the top, running the length of coop
and nailed on about two inches apart,
but not close enough to catch fowls
head.
Tack your shipping tag on top, with
name Of customer, destination, number
of birds in coop and directions to please
feed and water" Also do not forget to
tack or paste ON your business card or
label, as q coop Of fine fowls, properly
cooped and shipped, is one of the fan
cier's best advertisements. If the birds
are such as you would feel unwilling to
put your name on, it would pay better
to kill and sell them as market stock
Write your customer day or two be-
fore you ship, and, if the birds are to go
over days journey, advise him to feed
on soft food and give little water to
drink on the first day of arrival. This
coop may not be the best or the lightest,
but is the cheapest and easiest made and
the kind in most general use.