22 METHODS OF POULTRY MANAGEMENT. 



nest proper. For early spring work paper was put in the bot- 

 tom of the nest, then an inch or two of dry earth, and on 

 that the nest, made of soft hay. 



Whenever half a dozen hens became broody they were taken 

 in from the henhouse and put on the nests, each nest having a 

 dummy egg in it; the covers were then shut up, and nearly 

 every hen seemed contented. In a day or two 13 eggs were 

 placed under each hen. Every morning the hens were liberated 

 as soon as it was light, when they would come down of their 

 own accord and burrow in the dry dust on the floor, eat, drink, 

 and exercise, and in twelve or fifteen minutes they would nearly 

 all go back to the nests voluntarily. In the afternoons one would 

 occasionally be found off the eggs looking out through the 

 slatted door. If she persisted in coming off she was exchanged 

 for a better sitter. The double nest is necessary, otherwise the 

 discontented hen would have no room to stand up, except on 

 her nest full of eggs, and she would very likely ruin them. 

 There was no danger of this with the double nest, as she would 

 step off the nest, go to the door and try to get out. 



The advantages of a closed room in which to confine the sit- 

 ters are many, as the hens are easily controlled and do not need 

 watching as they do when selecting nests for themselves, or 

 when sitting in the same room with laying hens. A room 12 

 feet square could be arranged so as easily to accommodate 50 

 sitters. 



The most satisfactory arrangement used at the Maine Station 

 for the accommodation of the hen with her brood of young 

 chicks consisted of a closed coop about 30 inches square, with 

 a hinged roof and a movable floor in two parts, which would be 

 lifted out each day for cleaning. This little coop had a wire- 

 covered yard attached to it on the south side. The yard was 4 

 by 5 feet in size and 11-2 feet high. Its frame was of i-inch 

 by 3-inch strips and was fastened securely to the coop. 



The wire on the sides was of i-inch mesh, but on top 2-inch 

 mesh was sufficient. Such a coop is easily kept clean, and the 

 coop and yard can be set over upon clean grass by one person. 



The small run will be sufficient for the first few weeks, but 

 soon the chicks need greater range, and then the fence at the 

 farther end of the run can be lifted up 3 or 4 inches and they 

 can pass in and out at will, while the mother will be secure at 



