THE POULTRY HOUSE AXD EQUIPMENT 525 



The nests should be against the wall, and be 12 or 14 

 inches square, according to the size of fowl. Nests are some- 

 times placed below the dropping board, the hens entering 

 from the back and the eggs being removed from the front 

 by means of a hinged door. These nests have the advan- 

 tage of being rather dark, as hens under such conditions 

 rarely eat their eggs. Open nests may be fastened to the 

 side of the pen, if desired, a common method. Trap nests 

 are used in many houses to-day. The principle of this nest 

 is that, when the hen enters, she springs a trapdoor, and so 



Figure 256. — A three-section trap nest, showins^ one section shut. Photograph 

 from United States Dept. of Agriculture. 



is confined until released by the poultryman. Thus he 

 knows just what hens lay each day, and makes a record of 

 the same. Hens laying in trap nests usually are nmnbered 

 with metal leg-bands. 



A dust bath in the poultry house is most important. The 

 process of dusting is the method by which the bird keeps 

 herself free from Uce and similar pests. Many poultrj^nen 

 have a corner of the pen arranged so that road dust, sifted 

 coal ashes, or dry sand may be put there for dusting. A 

 depth of 3 or 4 inches of dust enclosed by pieces of com- 

 mon six-inch fencing boards will do. No poultry house 

 should be without a dust bath, especially during the winter. 



