A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 29 



devices on the market. If eggs are desired from certain indi- 

 vidual members of the flock only, the only sure method of 

 getting such eggs is by using trap nests, set to lock the individ- 

 ual layer up until released. The eggs can then be marked to 

 identify them. 



For the fancier, or anyone desiring special breedings from 

 individual hen's eggs, trap nests are indispensible. 



For commercial egg production, some features of trap 

 nesting are a positive detriment. If trap nests are so made 

 that, after laying, the hens can enter another pen where feed, 

 water, etc., are in constant supply, the same as in the pen 

 where they were before laying, there will be no objection to 

 the use of trap nests when egg production is the object. The 

 birds under such conditions can be so marked as to be easily 

 identified ; or may be transferred and identified after going 

 to roost. The eggs can be counted to see if the number cor- 

 responds to the number of hens, as a check on the correctness 

 of results. Some hens may go on the nests and pass through 

 without laying; therefore this method will not always be posi- 

 tive for exact results. This method will also add some to the 

 expense, in time, if time is valued on a monetary basis. 



If regular trap nesting is used, when good egg production 

 is the object, that is, if the hens are locked up until released 

 by the attendant, one of two things must happen : First, 

 either the attendant must practically live with the flock, so as 

 to be in a position to release the hens soon after laying ; or, 

 second, the capacity of each hen for producing eggs will be 

 cut down in proportion to the length of time that the hens 

 are shut up after laying — thus cutting down their produc- 

 tive powers to that extent, or in other words shortening their 

 business day. 



Fowls under such conditions cannot do their best, espe- 

 cially in winter, where every minute of light counts for much. 

 Of course, by the use of trap nests the owner will ha^•e the 

 satisfaction of knowing how many eggs each hen lays, and 

 which hens prove the best layers (for the_ number of hours 

 they have had available for manufacturing" those eggs). He 

 will also know, if he stops to think, that his "egg machines" 

 can do better, and each and every one of them probably will 

 lay more eggs without the use of trap nests than with them. 



