KGliS LAID OUTSIDE THE NESTS %■> 



liens cannot see (lie nest, they will not be used. II the boxes are ven- 

 tilated ill such a manner and placed in such a location as to admit too 

 much light, some of the laying' hens will avoid them, while the non- 

 layers may patronize them tor scratching' purposes only, especially if a 

 good supply of scratching material has not been provided elsewhere. 

 Eggs that are found on the droppings-boards or in the open floor or 

 yard, are laid by hens that are out of condition. Their egg organs are 

 weakened by accumulations of fat so that the egg is voided premature- 

 ly, incontinence may be caused by too frequent or too ardent attentions 

 of the male, or a low tone of the nervous system, resulting in alack of 

 ambition may be at the bottom of the trouble, or it can be caused by 

 over-stimulation. 



It is somewhat amusing to read after the Author-of-all-poultry- 

 knowledge, who claims that we can keep track of our layers well 

 enough by observation without the aid of trap nests and in the next 

 word says that we are not warranted in using them for the reason that 

 eggs will be laid outside and no one can tell which hens laid them. If 

 this Sage cannot find the pullet that drops her occasional egg in some 

 corner his superior intelligence would hardly enable him to keep track 

 of those that lay in the nests. 



If eggs are laid around anywhere it will require considerable close 

 observation and study to search out those few individuals that are re- 

 sponsible and get at the root of the difficulty. This goes to show how 

 hopeless would be the task of attempting to keep track of the whole 

 flock by the same methods. 



Our first concern should be to supply an adequate equipment of suit- 

 able nests. This book shows one way to do that. Next we should so 

 feed and care for our flocks that they shall be in good working condi- 

 tion, not indolent and filled with fat. The hens that lay in the nests at 

 all and thus gain a place in our egg record will, as a rule, use them all 

 of the time if they are not barred out. Those birds that prefer to lay 

 outside are always the same birds. They do not lay in the nests part 

 of the time and outside part of the time. 



The record sheet will show which birds are using the nests. Those 

 remaining will include the outside layers if there are any. It may be 

 more trouble to watch for these drones than' it is worth unless, as 

 should be the case with Experiment Station workers we are seeking 

 knowledge for the benefit of others. Those who are already so supreme- 

 ly wise that they do not care to look into the details of poultry keeping 

 carefully will be perfectly justified in holding their peace regarding 

 things that they can know nothing about. Heady guessers are mighty 

 poor instructors. 



Profitable layers will use suitable nests if such are available when they 

 want to lay. I have taken the trouble to search out and keep track of 



