Arrangement of Nests 127 



probably impossible to say which is the best. Each 

 has advantages and disadvantages. A somewhat 

 simple and easy plan of arranging nests when the 

 perches are placed not more than two and one- 

 half or three feet from the floor, is as follows : Under- 

 neath the platform, which should always be under- 

 neath the perches, as described above, the nests 

 are placed in a row on the floor. From the front 

 edge of the platform to the floor, in front of the 

 nests, a tight board partition is constructed. This 

 board partition is opened by means of a long door, 

 hinged either at the top or bottom. In either 

 case the lower edge of the door should be about 

 level with the top of the nests. A small opening 

 at one end of the door will admit fowls to the 

 nests. This arrangement secures darkness for the 

 nests, plenty of room for the fowls to approach 

 the nests from two or three sides, and the nests 

 are readily accessible for cleaning, gathering eggs, 

 etc. Some of the disadvantages of this plan are 

 that the nests occupy considerable floor-space and 

 the fowls are sometimes inclined to deposit their 

 eggs on the floor back of the nests. It is desirable 

 to arrange the nests so that they may be approached 

 from more than one side for the following reason: 

 In flocks of fowls of any considerable size there are 

 usually individuals more or less aggressive in char- 

 acter, that seem to delight in exercising their mastery 

 over others; such birds, when seeking a nest, will 



