EQUIPMENT AND LOFT NECESSITIES 237 



Drinking Troughs 



First, make a three-cornered trougli out of 2^-inch pieces of 

 lumber or out of galvanized iron. This trough should be as long 

 as the combined width of each unit or nest room of the squab 

 house. If made of wood the trough should be given two heavy 

 coats of asphaltum to keep it from leaking; tar applied while 

 hot will also prevent leaking. In warm climates this trough 

 can be run along the outside of the back wall just above the 

 level of the floor, with openings cut through with slats across 

 for the birds, to drink through. 



In colder climates the trough can be run through the inside 

 of the nest rooms. In such a case it is best to I'un it next to the 

 back wall, where it will be out of the way when cleaning. A 

 removable cover for the inside trough can easily be provided by 

 nailing a 1x6 inch board as long as the, trough on to two IV2 inch 

 thick blocks, so when the cover is on the birds can get at the 

 water to drink, but not in the troughs. 



By making these cover boards about 4 feet long, two can be 

 used in each nest room, which will be easier handled than a 

 longer one. 



If the outside trough will be in the sun or where dirt will blow 

 in it, a cover should also be provided. In case there is no city 

 or running water available, then a barrel or keg can be placed 

 at one end of the trough with a faucet set just above the trough, 

 and turned on so a small dripping stream only will run. An 

 overflow should be provided for at the farther end of the trough, 

 so the water will not run over into the nest rooms. If water is 

 scarce provision can be made to catch and save the overflow 

 to be used for bathing purposes. 



HOW TO SUPPLY DRINKING WATER FOR NEST ROOMS 

 IN SOUTHERN OR WARM CLIMATE 



In climates where the winters are not too severe, a small 

 "V" shaped trough can be run along the outside of one or a row 

 of nest rooms, on a line with the floor of the squab house with 

 an opening cut into each nest room. The opening should be 

 2 feet long and 6 inches high with slats or lath nailed on run- 

 ning up and down an inch and one-half apart. This will allow 



