88 METHODS OF POUI^TRY MANAGEMENT. 



long. Across its upper face just behind the hinges holding the 

 door is nailed a pine strip 4 inches wide, beveled on both sides, 

 as shown in figures 24 and 25. The door of the nest is not made 

 solid, but is an open frame (figs. 18 and 20), to the inner side 

 of which is fastened (with staples) a rectangular piece of 1-8- 

 inch mesh galvanized screening (dim.ensions 8 by 9 inches). 

 The sides of the door are strips of 3-4-inch beech stuff 12 

 inches long and i 1-2 inches wide, halved at the ends to join to 

 the top and bottom of the door. The top of the door is a strip 

 of hard wood 13 inches long and i 1-2 inches wide, halved in 

 2 3-4 inches from each end. The projecting ends of this top 

 strip serve as stops for the door when it closes (fig. 23). The 

 bottom of the door is a hard-wood strip 10 1-4 inches by 4 

 inches. The side strips are fitted into the ends of this bottom 

 strip in such way as to project slightly (about 1-32 inch) above 

 the front surface of that strip, for a reason which will be ap- 

 parent. 



When the nest is open the door extends horizontally in front, 

 as shown in figure 24. In this position the side strips of the 

 door rest on a strip of beech i 1-2 inches wide, beveled 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 (compare fig. 24). 

 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. 



The manner in which the nest operates will be cleared from 

 an examination of figures 24 and 25 which show a sample nest 

 with one side removed to show the inside. A hen about to lay 

 steps up on the door and walks in toward the dark back of the 

 nest. When she passes the point where the door is hinged to 

 the treadle her weight on the treadle causes it to drop. This at 

 the same time pulls the door up behind her, as shown in figure 

 25. It is then impossible for the hen to get out of the nest till 

 the attendant lifts door and treadle and resets it. It will be seen 

 that the nest is extremely simple. It has no locks or triggers to 

 get out of order. Yet by proper balancing of door and treadle 



