MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. "JJ 



when the hens are busiest. EarHer and later in the clay his visits 

 are not so frequent. The hens must all have leg bands in order 

 to identify them; a number of different kinds are on the market. 

 The double box with the nest in the rear is necessary. When a 

 hen has laid an &gg and desires to leave the nest, she steps out 



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^^^E9H^|^HRP^"-^^^^-~ ' 1 



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Fig. 20. Trap nest closed. One side removed to show method of 

 operation. 



into the front space and remains there until she is released. 

 With only one section she would be likely to crush her tgg by 

 stepping upon it, and thus learn the pernicious habit of ^gg 

 eating. 



To remove a hen, the nest is pulled part way out, and as it 

 has no cover she is readily caught, the number on her leg band 

 is noted and the proper entry made on the record sheet. After 

 having been taken off a few times the hens do not object to be- 

 ing handled, most of them remaining quiet, apparently expecting 

 to be picked up. 



Before commencing the use of trap nests it was thought that 

 some hens might be irritated by the trapping operation and ob- 

 ject to the noise incident to it, but such does not seem to be 

 the case. Trap nests have been used at the Maine Station for 

 Leghorns, Brahmas, Wyandottes, and Plymouth Rocks and a 

 number of other breeds. 



