EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 257 



nailed a 1 by 3 inch strip the length of the base board, the ends of 

 the strip then being connected to the upper ends of the double strip 

 previously mentioned by a IxS-inch strip. After inserting the remaining 

 partitions, the top and ends can be boarded up leaving an opening at 

 each end for the birds to enter and walk along. A door can be placed 

 in the front as in the other nest. For convenience this nest, when once 

 constructed, is hard to excel. Due to the sloping top, birds are unable 

 to roost on it and the ends can be closed readily at night to prevent 

 a persistent setting hen from spending the night on the nests. Other 

 nests such as open boxes, nests built in permanently and covered with 

 a sloping top which permit the bird to enter from the front instead of 

 back are quite commonly used, while many types of trap nests which 

 mean an endless amount of labor are frequently found. The secluded 

 features of the nests described are very desirable, and the sloping top on 

 the latter prevents chickens from roosting on it, thus making it one 

 which can be kept clean with comparative ease. 



ALLEY. 



For exhibition houses where visitors are frequent and the flock is con- 

 tinually being inspected it is most satisfactory to have an alley, as the 

 constant excitement of having visitors in the flocks is not conducive to 

 good results in laying or breeding pens. From the standpoint of the 

 poultry farmer, where space and equipment is limited, the alley is an ex- 

 pensive luxury for it occupies about one-quarter of the space that might 

 be used for housing chickens besides being an expense to keep clean 

 and unless there is a door from one pen to the next direct, it incurs more 

 labor in caring for the flock. * 



DUST BATH. 



Provisions should be made for a dust bath in every pen, for the prob- 

 lem of dealing with lice is greatly reduced by its presence. The objec- 

 tion that it creates dust in the house is greatly overcome by its bene- 

 ficial features and a closed bath with a special window in the south side 

 and accessible by a small opening can be easily constructed which has 

 an additional advantage in that it is comparatively free from the danger 

 of any dirt or litter accumulating from the pen. Fine road dust, finely 

 sifted coal ashes, etc., are very desirable materials for the dust bath, and 

 the addition of lime, tobacco dust and patent preparations tend to 

 make it more effective. 



WATER STANDS. 



In order to keep the drinking utensils clean and sanitary it is desir- 

 nble to use water stands about 18 inches high to prevent straw and 

 dirt from collecting in and about the pail. 

 33 



