Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-09
Faulty Nest Construction Is
Responsible For Vermin,
Filth and Other Troubles
Ideal Nests Are Easy to
Clean, Easy of Access,
Convenient and Secluded
BY Robert Armstrong
Expert Poultryman and Writer

expert POultryman ana writer
When considering the comfort Of
the birds and the convenience of the
caretaker, the interior arrangement of
a poultry house Is almost as import
ant as the construction of the build
ing. If the interior fittings, notably
the nests and perches, are incon-
venient and of such a character that
the performance of ones work is
made unnecessarily tedious and lab
orious it is quite likely to have a
demoralizing effect upon the attend
ants interest and ability. In con-
sequence. some of the routine chores
are very apt to be overlooked or
Sighted, and in due time carelessness
takes the place of thoroughness.
In this article we have taken up
the subject of nests. their construc-
tion and arrangement, which is illus
trated by working diagrams of a few
simple contrivances.
Experienced poultrymen appreciate
the Importance OF having nests easy
to access and in n convenient position
They should frequently be cleaned
and sprayed and the nesting material
replenished, otherwise it will be i'm
possible to secure clean eggs, or to
keep the birds free of vermin, lice
and mites. Furthermore, the nests
should be built so that 1t is conven-
lent for the attendant to remove any
sitting hens, for unless broodiness
Is promptly broken up, there will be
a serious falling off in the egg yield.
During the Matching season, especially
on farms devoted to egg production,
IL is necessary to go over all the nests
every night and remove all hens show
ing any inclination to sit, therefore,
unless the nests are suitably arranged
this detail in the daily routine will
consume a great deal of time and is
likely to prove a severe tax on ones
patience.
1t is also important that the nests
De protected against the fowls roost-
Ing in them or on top of them, thereby
solllng them unnecessarily, which the
birds are prone to do, especially If
the nests are located higher than the
perches. Soiled eggs are very Bother
some, and even when thoroughly
cleaned they are very apt to be de-
tected by the customer as washed
eggs and discounted accordingly.
Hons Seek a Secluded Spot
The hens views must be consider
ed, too. She is vitality concerned in
the matter. and her comfort is no less
important than that of the egg patbo
erer. If allowed to pursue her own
impulses, biddy will select an incon-
spicuous place, usually where it is
dark, and where there is little risk of
being molested. She does not like to
lay in nests that are exposed to the
view of the rest of the flock, or where
she is likely to be frightened or in
terrupted by the attendant or bv an
other quarrelsome hen; she wants se-
clusion, privacy, and those who give
their poultry intelligent care will see
that these accommodations are pro-
vided.
Frequently, egg-eating habits, egg
pound conditions and other troubles
result from faulty nest construction
The nest has an important infInennn
on egg production generally. If some
are more comfortable and more Sc
cluded than others the hens will fight
for the desirable ones, in so doing
preak eggs, perhaps, or injure themS.
selves. And when eggs are broken
ana the 1oWls get taste for them, the
egg-eating habit is started, which is
very troublesome and difficult to
break up. If the hens are frightened
while on the nest and made to law
prematurely, they are likely to RIM.
ture themselves, or they are ant To
be frightened off the nest without law
ing, which induces an g-bound con
dition. i' 'oii-
The difficulty is MANY nouI+r,,
raisers try to economize in the matter
OF nests. Instead of building them
TO order, with due respect to space
ease IN cleaning and comfort to the
hen and to the egg gatherer. thew use
maKeshfftS store boxes oronga
crates and other devices, and nail
them to the building as thev arc
needed and whenever there is n ya
cant space. There is no uniformitv
In TINS method, and it is virtuaIlv i'm,
possible to arrange them economic.
ally In any position other than on the
'front.' wall, whore they are exposed
70 all the commotion - eyervtbine
that takes place in the house
Buiit-in nests, those which are not
portable are very difficult and tedious
10 clean and replenish with nesting
niaterial. even when they are Installed
aiohs ',, Practical lines, whereas a mix
cartons, broken egg cases. cracker tins
and the like should never he toian
ated on the well-managed farm. Tbeir
use is defended by some poultrvmen
under the pretext of economy-in
that they can be removed and burn-
ed as soon as they become badly soil
ed. A better way is to build nests that
will not become unduly deflIed.
Portable Sections Under the Rooets
A good location for the nests 10
under the dropping boards, and have
the nests suspended from the boards
in light, portable sections or batteries
a foot or more from the floor. WHARF
they are the least obtrusive. and vet
very convenient for the fowls. An
arrangement OF this kind Is shown i'm
Fig. of he accompanying drawing