INTERIOR OF THE POULTRY HOUSE 193 



tendant releases her. When he sets her free her leg band 

 number is read, and recorded on a card for the purpose. 

 Such records, if carefully made, show the egg production 

 of individual birds for a given length of time. 



In order to keep the eggs from getting broken, some sort of 

 nesting material is usually placed in the bottom of the nest. 

 This may be straw, a poor grade of hay, or planer shavings. 

 Straw litter is very good, as it is dry and keeps clean. 



Water. — Water pans or fountains should be set on shelves 

 or fastened to the wall in an elevated position. Two types 

 of water vessels are in general use; one an open pan or trough, 

 the other a syphon fountain. The pan is easy to fill and 

 clean, but, unless provided with some specially constructed 

 cover, the birds are apt to get into it, and soil the water. 

 Syphon fountains are of various styles and makes. They 

 work on the principle of a vacuum or absence of air. As the 

 water flows out of the opening at the bottom, air pressure 

 on the outside is caused by the absence of air on the inside 

 of the vessel. This outside pressure holds the water at a 

 given height until more air enters as more water is released. 

 The drinking vessel should be of good size, so that the birds 

 can always have plenty of fresh water. Regardless of the 

 type, they should be so located that the birds can not tip 

 them over if they should alight on them when flying. A 

 heavy galvanized drip pan for a refrigerator, four to six 

 inches deep, makes a durable drinking pan. 



Hoppers. — The feed hoppers generally used are designed 

 for two purposes, the feeding of both mash or ground grains, 

 ^Iso often for feeding grit, shell and meat. Many types of 

 hoppers are on the market, but it is hard to find one which 

 feeds the mash down continuously as the birds eat it, yet 

 does not waste it. Hoppers of different types can be made 

 at home at much less cost, yet are very satisfactory. All 

 hoppers should be attached to the walls or placed on raised 

 platforms (Figs. 108 and 109). 



