20 TIIK THAI' NEST TEXT liooK 



not only be able to find si nest to hiy in but she should have a choice^ 

 of nests, as if only one happens to be vacant il may not be in just the 

 location to suit that particular hen. 



I have found that when the eggs sire collected but three or four times 

 daily, it is advisable to have sit least two-thirds sis main' nests as there 

 are eggs laid daily. Hence it follows that the number of nests required 

 depends more upon the number of eggs laid than on the number of hens 

 in the flock. 



By fitting' up my pens with a number of nests based on the egg' yield, 

 adding more nests as more eggs were laid, J have been able to keep the 

 eggs laid outside the nests down to a very small number, even with 

 flocks of pullets. A proper arrangement of a sufficient number of traps 

 in the pen will permit of a record being kept of practically all ol the 

 eggs laid by a flock that is in good condition. 



It is customary to reckon one-third as many nests sis hens but that 

 rule will not always work. I have seen the claim that one nest for five 

 hens was sufficient. That estimate wsis applied in connection with a 

 somewhat expensive nest that wsis sold resuly-made. One nest with 

 five hens appears to have been one of the rules that helped to make a 

 certain Experiment Station test one of the most amusing pieces of folly 

 on record. The injustice, bigotry and inaccuracy that characterized the 

 test was disclosed in a Report that also revealed the almost incompre- 

 hensible stupidity of the management. 



Pour nests might be sufficient for Iwelve liens but it does not follow 

 that one nest will suffice for three hens. Three hens are likely to want 

 to lay at practically the same time, occasionally, but they cannot all get 

 into the nest at once — that is if it is the Ideal. I would use at least two 

 nests with three hens. Perhaps five hens would need no more if looked 

 after frequently. Ideal nests are cheaper than time however. 



There is but one correct rule to follow and that is: use nests enough 

 so that all of the nests will not be occupied long sit one time. That 

 might be two nests with one flock of twelve hens and eight nests with 

 another. It all depends upon the kind of layers one has and the sys- 

 tem of attention adopted. 



I cannot impress loo strongly upon the reader the importance of in- 

 stalling nests enough. It is immaterial, in this connection, whether the 

 fault has been in the design of the traps, their expense, or lack of 

 forethought on the part of the user the fact remains that probably 

 ninety per cent of the troubles that people have had with installations 

 of trap nests and I be resulting ill considered and inaccurate opinions 

 tliat hsive been sill vsi need regarding' this system have been caused, di- 

 rectly or indirectly, by an insufficient, number of nests. 



I do not think if necessary to explain in detail all of the reasons for 

 this. Suffice it to say that experience will prove to any reasonable man 



