THE IDEAL TRAP NEST 13 



the nest material shall not interfere with the '• Attachment". It may be 

 lower, however, if a strip of 1-2 inch stuff, 4 inches wide, he nailed on 

 edge across the botlom of [he hox, inside and i inches or more from 

 the front to confine the nest material. If this is done a deeper box will 

 be required. 



By adopting this melhod, a very low hox may he used, even for 

 large breeds, as an opening 1 1-2 inches wide may lie cut in the front 

 edge of the top of the hox to permit the trap plate being raised to the 

 full size of the opening (see V in ligs. r> and 6). Thus it will be seen 

 that a box 13 or 14 inches high might be used, but so low a box would 

 seldom be required and is not high enough for a hen to stand with 

 comfort. 



I earnestly recommend that when selecting or making nest boxes 

 this matter of height be considered. It is a rare thing to find a covered 

 nest that is high enough. Many broken eggs, mutilated combs and 

 bruised backs result from using nests that are too low. 



For the purpose of removing the hen and egg, the box may be fitted 

 with a cover in the top, (fig. 2,) a door in the back, (tigs. 3 and 6) or 

 the front may be hinged to serve as a door, (fig. 5). 



When trap nests are to be used in considerable numbers, they should 

 be so made that the attendant can see if they are occupied without 

 opening them. To attain this end the Ideal may be made with the 

 hinged front, (tig. 5) and used hack to the wall, or if, used front to the 

 wall, the door in the hack may be made of narrow strips or laths 

 cleated together so as to leave openings ut >t more than 3-4 inches wide 

 between them, (fig (i.) When the box is used front to the wall the 

 attendant can see into the nest through these narrow openings in the 

 back. If the box is used burfr to the wall he can see at a glance if the 

 trap is locked or the nest occupied ; an important distinction with some 

 trap nests. I prefer this latter style, (tig. 5,) in every case except 

 when the nests are to he. used on a littered floor or opening on a 

 walk. When it is desired to hinge the front in order to use the 

 box back to the wall, 3 inch strap hinges may be used and 

 applied as shown in fig. 5. They may be easily bent so as 

 to form a right angle. The door may be secured by any pre- 

 ferred form of hook or button. A simple catch, made by bending 

 an ordinary screw hook at right angles, may be screwed into the 

 edge of the box at any desired point and makes a strong and handy 

 fastening, (see fig. 4.) This catch I designed especially for the Ideal 

 and it is the only thoroughly satisfactory fastening that I have ever 

 used. It is strong and ••stays put." I find it a very handy form of 

 catch for various purposes such as fastening coop doors, holding up the 

 bail of the water pail, etc. Screw hooks of any size can be placed in a 

 bench vise and hammered into the right shape. In use, if they turn too 



