58 AN EGG FARM. 



mer is suspended on a pivot between two posts. This ham- 

 mer is raised by pulling a wire, one end of which is 

 within the reach of the operator, who stands at the shelf 

 near the houses where the hand-hammer is. One end of 

 a short cord is attached to the distant hammer, Fig. 18, 

 passing around two sash pulleys, Fig. 19, so as to change 

 the pull from perpendicular to horizontal, and the other 

 end is attached to the wire above mentioned. One end 

 of the shelf meets the blow of the hammer between the 

 posts. After a little practice, a blow can be given each 

 time with just sufficient force to jar off a little grain. If 

 predatory pigeons or sparrows are feared, have wire net- 

 ting attached to the shelf over the grain, a few inches 

 above it. A small bell may be suspended near each shelf 

 and rung after the hammer stroke, by means of a wire 

 terminating at the same point that the hammer wire 

 does, as above described, so as to 

 be within easy reach of the attend- 

 ant. Spool wire, Fig. 102, is the 

 best. Fowls quickly learn the 

 FIG. 19. meaning of sound signals, for, as 



everybody knows, they may be called by a whistle or by 

 drumming on the feed pan or by any sort of noise cus- 

 tomarily repeated at feed time. The bell is not abso- 

 lutely necessary, for the birds hear the hammer stroke 

 and soon learn its meaning. 



The breeding fowls and breeding yards are few in 

 number, and as these fowls are very choice and their 

 perfect thrift is of the utmost importance, the feed 

 shelves are to be jarred quite frequently during the day, 

 and, therefore, the yards should be located near the feed 

 storehouse, or the place where the eggs are put after 

 gathering, or at whatever point the attendant will pass, 

 or be at, the most frequently during the day. Or the 

 hammers for both the shelves may be pivoted and have 

 cords and wires attached, these last being extended to 



