76 



METHODS OF POULTRY MANAGEMENT, 



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 pnlls the door up behind her, as shown in figure 

 20. 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 b}- proper balancing of door and treadle 

 it can be so delicately adjusted that a weight of less than half a 

 pound on the treadle will spring the trap. All bearing surfaces 

 are made of beech because of the well-know^i property of this 



Fig. 19. Trap nest open. One side removed to show method of operation. 



wood to take on a highly polished surface with wear. The nests 

 in use at the Maine Station have the doors of hard wood, in 

 order to get greater durability. Where trap nests are constantly 

 in use, flimsy construction is not economical in the long run. 

 For tem.porary use the nest door could be constructed of soft 

 wood. 



The trap nests are not made with covers because they are 

 used in tiers and slide in and out like drawers. They can be 

 carried away for cleaning when necessary. Four nests in a pen 

 iccommodate 20 hens by the attendant going through the pens 

 >nce ar hour, or a little oftener, during that part of the day 



