2=,0 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1908. 



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 temporary 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. Ten nests in a pen 

 accommodate 50 hens, by the attendant going through the pens 

 once an hour during that part of the day when the hens are 

 busiest. Earlier and later in the day his visits are not so fre- 

 quent. Considerable experience is needed in trap-nesting 

 before one learns how best to manage the hens at different 

 seasons of the year with reference to this matter of time of 

 removal of the birds from the nests. The tendency with one 

 beginning trap-nesting is to visit the nests too frequently, not 

 allowing a sufficient time between visits. The frequent hand- 

 ling upsets the hens and increases the number of "floor eggs" 

 (i. e., eggs laid outside the trap nests.) The aim should be to 

 provide enough nests so that visits to them need not be made 

 oftener than once an hour, even during periods of heaviest lay- 

 ing. There is need for exact observations to determine what is 

 the average time spent by a "non-broody" hen on the nest. 



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 is made on the record sheet. 

 After having been taken off a few times the hens do not object 

 to being handled ; most of them remaining quiet, apparently 

 expecting to be picked up. 



Egg Distributing and Turning Table. 

 As has been pointed out above (p. 240) it is desirable in poul- 

 try breeding work to have some arrangement such that the eggs 

 laid by a particular bird may be kept together pending incuba- 

 tion, and at the same time, be turned from day to clay without 

 too great an expenditure Of labor. To attain these ends an egg 

 distributing and turning table has been devised. A description 

 follows of the table in use at the Station. It is, of course, 

 possible to vary the dimensions at will from those given to meet 

 special needs while retaining the general plan of the table. 



