13 



at the side, 12 or 13 inches deep. A set of nest boxes can be 

 made in the form of a drawer and placed under the droppings 

 board, as shown in the illustration, or a box with three com- 

 partments and a slanting roof like that of the feed box can be 

 used, the front edges being 13 or 14 inches high, and the rear 

 18 to 20 inches. A strip 4 inches wide is nailed along the 

 lower edge of the front to keep in the nesting material and 

 eggs. This will allow plenty of space for the hens to enter. 

 Two cleats nailed to the ends close to the bottom and project- 

 ing 6 inches in front will serve as a support for a strip for the 

 hens to fly to when entering the nests. A more inexpensive 

 nest box can be made from a dry goods box. For small hens 

 an egg case or an orange box will make a satisfactory nest. 

 However, in using boxes of any kind, arrange to have the hens 

 enter at the side rather than at the top, as they should not be 

 compelled to jump down into a deep box or case and thus cause 

 a loss from unnecessary breakage. The nests should be well 

 supplied with straw or other nesting material. Thousands of 

 eggs are lost annually through breakage because hens are com- 

 pelled to lay on bare or rough boards. 



Broody Coop. — A coop is necessary for breaking up the 

 broody hens unless a non-broody race, such as Leghorns or 

 Minorcas, is kept. A slatted coop, similar to the one in the 

 illustration on page 9, Fig. 2, approximately 18 by 24 inches, is 

 ideal. It is made of slats If inches wide, placed 1 inch apart 

 except on the end where the feed trough is located. There the 

 slats are placed 2j inches apart to allow the hens to reach 

 through for feed. A more inexpensive coop can be made by 

 securing a box 15 to 18 inches deep and 1^ to 2 feet square, 

 removing the top and bottom, and from the boards thus removed 

 making slats similar to those described above. It can be placed 

 in the poultry house or hung under a tree. Provision must be 

 made for feeding and watering. 



Feed Bin. — A feed bin for holding suflBcient mash and 

 scratch feed to last the flock for three or four weeks is very 

 convenient. Where grain is left in a barn or other outbuildings, 

 or even in a basement, there is usually more or less waste by 

 rats and mice, and having feed in the poultry house saves time 

 and labor. The bin in the illustration is 15 inches wide, 3 feet 



