14 THE TKA1> NEST TEXT BOOK 



hard, they should lie screwed farther into the wood .and then withdrawn 

 the right distance. This will maketheni work easier. When making the 

 hinged front it should be made 1-4 incli narrower than the box inside 

 and the cleats Q and R made as long as the box is wide outside, as 

 shown by the dotted lines E E, tigs. 1 and s. The movable portion of 

 this front should not extend below the bottom edge of the cleat K, the 

 remaining space is tilled by nailing a strip to the box, (see W, flg. 5.) 

 A space of 1-2 inch should be left between this strip and the bottom of 

 the door to prevent the latter from binding. 



VENTILATION. 



The Ideal may be ventilated as much or little as is thought desirable. 

 The comfort of the hen should certainly have consideration. Mr. 

 Michael K. Boyer made ventilation one of the cardinal points in his 

 trap nest "contest.'' The box may be ventilated by boring holes in the 

 sides, using a large bit or auger, or a box may be constructed of slats 

 or laths 3-4 of an inch apart, or the sides alone may be made in this 

 way and the back solid. Openings should not be made in the top of 

 the box unless it is to be used where the hens cannot perch on it, as 

 their droppings will go through and soil the nest. If the box is high 

 no openings should be made that will be above the fowl's head when 

 she stands erect. Hens will jump toward the light that enters above 

 their heads and may break their eggs. Boxes having openings in the 

 lower part of the sides or back, should be used where they will not be 

 exposed to direct draughts of air. The form of.the trap-plate and the 

 hen-opening are such as to provide air, probably sufficient in many 

 cases. 



TO MAKE THE ATTACHMENT. 



The Ideal Attachment, a sample of which accompanies the plan 

 sheet, consists of a trap-plate, (A flg. 8) and a pawl or trigger (I 5 fig. 8). 

 For the trap-plate take a piece of 1-2 inch dressed board not less than 9 

 inches wide and 11 inches long (old boxes will often provide suitable 

 pieces.) Place the model oil this and mark around it with a pencil; 

 bore 1-4 inch hole in exactly same place as in sample; draw straight 

 lines as shown in 1ig 7, then saw from A to B, <J to I). E to F, G to D, 

 H to J, J to K, L to M; cut notches and finish to curved lines with knife. 



The pawl (P tig. 8) is made from 3-4 inch stuff. It is very import- 

 ant that this pawl he at least 1-4 inch thicker than the trap-plate 

 which should lie a I least 1-2 inch thick. Mark out from sample; the 

 grain of Hie wood should run lengthwise of the pawl; bore 1-4 inch 

 hole in exactly the same place as model, then saw out and finish with 

 knife. 



