553 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
the eggs, etc., which may be the cause of egg eating. Notice 
the provision made for dropping step at night to prevent 
roosting on it and also the top of the nests for the same 
reason. 
Gather the eggs frequently but do not annoy the hens. 
Use china nest eggs to prevent breakage. 
Fig. 96. A Trap Nest — Side View. 1, 2. Hinges. 8. Door. 4. Trip Board on 
which the Hen Steps when Entering the Nest. 5. String Attached to the Trip 
Board and to a Hook which Holds the Door Open. 6. Hook Suspending the 
Door. 7. Strip upon which one End of the Trip Board Rests. 8. String 
Attached to the Door by which it is Opened to Liberate the Hen. 
A Trap Nest is made in such a manner as to catch the 
hen as soon as she goes in to lay. Here she is kept until 
liberated. The object in doing this is to find out exactly 
how many eggs each hen lays. Then it is possible to breed 
from the best layers. By the use of the trap nest and by 
acting upon the information it supplies, the egg production 
and breed of the flock is greatly improved. Figs. 96 and 97 
show the plan of arranging the trip. 4 is a half-inch strip 4 
in. wide, upon which the hen steps when entering the nest, 
A. Her weight presses down the strip and by means of the 
string, 5, the hook, 6, is pulled out and the door, 3, of the 
nest falls shut. The hen, of course, is caught and must re- 
main until liberated, by which time she will have laid, and 
the door is hooked up again for the next. There are many 
different and elaborately made nests, but this simple, home- 
made contrivance serves the purpose and is easily made. 
The door is hinged, 1 and 2, to 2-in. strips, which are also 
