104 The Hen at Work 



lower edges must be cut just enough, four inches 

 up, to let it fit snugly against the sides of the lower 

 tray. Before it is fastened in place, nail a strip 

 one inch square across the front, five inches from 

 the bottom, to hold the ends of the slats. The 

 lower edge of the front should come about two 

 and a half inches from the bottom of the tray. 

 This leaves space for the mash to feed down to 

 the hens by its own weight, as fast as it is cleaned 

 up, but no more can come down until that in the 

 tray is weU cleaned up. 



A lip, or strip of wood two and a half inches 

 wide, is to be nailed across the top of the front 

 edge of the tray. This keeps the mash from being 

 spilled out. 



Slats, as shown in the picture, should be nailed 

 across from the lip to the strip on the front. 

 These are two and a half inches apart, and keep 

 the hens from scattering the mash about with a 

 side swing of the head, which they will always do 

 if they can. A piece of thin board, just wide 

 enough to cover the open space at the top of the 

 tray, shotild be provided to slide under these slats, 

 and keep the fowls away from the mash during 

 the morning. 



