290 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



necessary to rid themselves of vermin. Therefore encourage 

 this habit. 



Nests. — A nest fifteen inches square is none too big for the 

 sitter, and six inches is about the right depth. Place some clean 

 earth or sand — better still, a piece of sod — in the bottom of the 

 nest, about two inches deep, nicely hollowed to receive the litter 

 and finally the eggs. Avoid corners into which the eggs can be 

 rolled and left to chill ; yet do not have the nest so much like a 



Fig. i86. — Rear perspective of coop for sitting hens, as shown in Fig. 183 



hole that there is a tendency for the eggs to pile on top of each 

 other. 



Litter. — Straw, cut hay, excelsior, shavings or fresh pine needles 

 make excellent nesting material, and shape the stuff so that it 

 will conform to the body of the hen. Never use old nesting ma- 

 terial, because of the germs or vermin which it might contain. 

 If the nest boxes have been used for previous hatches, it is ad- 

 visable to give them a thorough cleaning with some disinfectant, 

 or to whitewash them. 



