POULTRY FIXTURES 



the laying from the non-laying hens. They keep 

 the hen imprisoned when she goes on the nest until 

 she is released by the attendant. These nests fur- 

 nish the only certain means of knowing which hen 

 is laying and how many eggs she lays in a certain 

 period of time. The best of these nests are pat- 

 ented, so we cannot give plans ; but they may be in- 

 stalled at a cost of, usually, from twenty-five to fifty 

 cents each. Those wishing such nests will find them 

 advertised in the poultry papers. It takes a little 

 time to visit the nests three or four times a day, but 

 one who is trying to build up a laying strain will 

 receive ample reward for all labor expended in this 

 direction. 



Flocks, each hen in which lays two hundred or 

 more eggs per year, have been made possible only 

 by careful selection of the breeding stock, through 

 several generations, from the data furnished by 

 trap-nest records. All characteristics and qualities 

 of poultry are largely matters of selection ; this is 

 as true of utility or market qualities as of fancy 

 points. Any poultry keeper can, in the course of a 

 few years, establish a reputation for having birds 

 of extra-large size, extra-good layers, or extra-fine 

 exhibition stock, if only he will breed carefully and 

 judiciously with those ends in view. 



Nest Eggs are entirely unnecessary as well as 

 undesirable, unless medicated eggs are used for 

 the purpose of keeping down vermin. These eggs 



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