146 EQUIPPING THE POULTRY HOUSE 
poultry houses greater than twenty feet in length, for they mate- 
rially lessen the danger from drafts. The improper use of muslin 
drop curtains is often detrimental to the best health of the flock. 
Dropping Platforms.—In order to provide some means of more 
easily removing the droppings and keeping the house in a better 
sanitary condition, dropping boards or platforms under the perches 
have come into quite general use. This facilitates the saving of 
large amounts of manure for fertilizer purposes. The dropping 
boards are placed under the perches, usually at a distance of eight 
to ten inches, being supported from the floor by legs or hung from 
the ceiling by rods or wires. In narrow pens they rest on cleats 
nailed to the walls. In small houses dropping boards are often 
made movable so that they will slide similar to a drawer. They 
should be constructed of matched lumber, having a perfectly 
smooth upper surface. It is best to have the boards run perpen- 
dicular to the perches, or in the direction which it is necessary for 
the attendant to work when cleaning them with a hoe. It is neces- 
sary to clean them, under general conditions, about twice a week. 
It is possible by the use of absorbents, such as land plaster or dry 
loam, to keep the droppings dry. This will allow of less frequent 
cleaning. Eliminating the dropping boards by the substitution of 
an absorbing material, such as peat moss, on the floor under the 
perches is possible. This reduces labor; but also reduces the floor 
space, which more than balances the labor item. 
Nests.—All breeds of poultry have by nature a nesting habit, 
and they desire to find some secluded spot, usually darkened, for 
their eggs. For this reason, nests should be provided which will 
offer the most inducement to the birds to lay in one place. Prop- 
erly constructed nests, suitably located, mean more efficiency in 
the following ways: Less labor is required in collection, as the 
eggs are all deposited in one place, which is known to the attendant 
and easy of access. Eggs laid in dark, clean nests are much cleaner 
and hence much more valuable for market purposes. Where 
sufficient nests are provided, there is less danger of the eggs being 
deposited in the litter and becoming lost or stepped on and broken. 
Nest eggs are useful because they induce the birds to lay in the 
same place each time, and tend to cause less crowding. 
Nest Construction—(1) Nests should be darkened, so that the 
birds feel secluded and protected. After laying they do not remain, 
so long on the nests and break the eggs. If eggs are broken in 
light nests, it may result in developing the habit of egg eating. 
