NATURAL INCUBATION, 51 
is balanced on a hard-wood edge, upon the end of a 
broad lever, which works upon another edge of hard- 
wood affixed to the bottom. <A weight, 4, placed near 
the end of the lever, counterbalances the nest as may be 
necessary, and a tin plate, g, attached to the end of the 
lever will rise and close the opening 4, as a door, when 
the weight of the hen causes the nest to descend. The 
entire side, which is absent in the diagram, should be 
fastened on by screws so as to be easily removed, or at- 
tached by hinges to the bottom, so as to give access to 
the working parts. The sides of the nest must be 
Fig. 32. 
greased, and of course the tin door must move up and 
down without any catching. The counterbalancing of 
the nest should be so adjusted that the weight of six 
teen average-sized eggs, say two pounds and a half, will 
bring it down. No laying hen weighs less than this, 
except Bantams, and perhaps some of the Hamburgs. 
So whenever a hen is on the nest the door will be closed. 
When she leaves it, the door will open. The advantages 
are that ouly one hen will occupy the nest ata time, and 
fighting over the eggs and breakage are thus prevented. 
Then, when a hen is set and is likely to be disturbed, : 
the weight may be entirely removed, in which case the 
door will remain closed, whether she is upon or off the 
eggs. She may be let out towards evening, daily, after 
the other hens have laid, or food and water may be 
