INTERIOR OF THE POULTRY HOUSE 191 



and the back perch should be no closer to the back wall 

 than twelve inches. 



Nests. Nests are constructed to provide a place where 

 hens may lay their eggs. The two most common locations 

 are either under the front of the dropping board or along 

 the wall. In any case they must be darkened, for the birds 

 like dark nests, and they lessen the danger of egg eating. 

 Whether on the wall or suspended, nests should be so de- 



~/euated rj&st bui/f- 

 permanently To a 

 wall cfthe hous e . 



/ocofedjust under the 

 J'ront edge of the drvp 

 board 



Movab/e 

 boxes 



Point cvhere tht 



hen e 



nest 



can be ope 

 to co//&ct 



Nest 



Brace used To support the 

 nests and dropping board 



FIG. 105. Two of the best types of poultry nests. 



signed that the laying hen can enter from the back (Fig. 

 105). The eggs can best be removed from a drop door in 

 the front. Nests should always be built of plain or dressed 

 lumber, and ten to fourteen inches square. If open, the 

 sides should rise at least four inches above the bottom of 

 the nest to keep the eggs from rolling out when the hen 

 leaves the nest (Fig. 106). When closed nests are built, 

 there should be at least twelve inches between the bottom of 

 the nest and the ceiling. One nest to four hens is the right 

 proportion during the spring and summer, but in the winter, 

 or non-laying season, this number is not needed (Fig. 107). 



