POULTRY-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION. 



19 



TRAP-NESTS. 



The trap-nest system of poultry-breeding is one which gives the best black and 

 white results. Owing to the great amount of time involved in this system, it lies 

 with the poultrynian himself whether he trap-nests his stock or not. If one does 

 not care to trap-nest all his stock, some advantage will accrue from trap-nesting 

 some of the April-hatched stock that matured nicely. In this way only a small 

 amount of time will be required, yet in time the poultrynian can advertise pedigree 

 trap-nested stock which will be all he claims for it. One will also lind, by using 

 males from the trap-nested hens, that in a few generations a good strain of layers 

 can be built up. 



In all the experimental work done by experiment stations use is made of trap- 

 nests. 



The cufs and dimensions of the latest nest, which was devised by the Maine 

 Experiment Station, show an excellent double-compartment nest. 



This shows a good interior arrangement for a commercial poultry-house. 



The features of superiority of this nest over the old types used there, as also 

 of the coop type of nest, are: Firstly, certainty of operation; secondly, more 

 simplicity in construction and less tendency to get out of order; thirdly, saving of 

 labour in resetting the nest. 



The nest is a box-like structure without front end of cover, 28 inches long, 13 

 inches wide, and 1C inches deep, inside measure. A straight board partition extend- 

 ing up a few inches from the floor of the nest, 12 inches from the back and 15 

 inches from the front, divides the nest in two compartments. 



The front portion of the nest has no fixed bottom. Instead there is the movable 

 bottom or treadle, which is hinged at the back end of the front half, as shown* in 

 the cut. To this treadle is hinged the door of the nest. The cut gives very detailed 

 dimensions. 



When the nest is open the door extends horizontally in front. In this position 

 the side strips of the door rest on a strip of beech 1^ inches wide, bevelled on the 

 inner corner, which extends across the front of the nest. This beech strip is nailed 

 to the top of a board 4 inches wide, which forms the front of the nest-box proper. 

 To the bottom of this is nailed a strip 2 inches wide, into which are set two 4-inch 

 spikes from which the heads have been cut. The treadle rests on these spikes when 

 the nest is closed. The hinges used in fastening the treadle and door are narrow 

 3-inch galvanized butts with brass pins, made to work very easily. It is necessary 

 to use hinges which will not rust. 



