Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-11

Poul5rymen have turned toDSy- |
turvey the old adage about the bird |
in the gilded cage, as they use the |
gilded cage, in the guise of a mod |
ern trap nest, as a modern book |
keeper to facilitate keeping records
of egg production. These records
identify the shirkers from the work
ers in the flock. as well as protect
against the loss of valuable eggs
produced in catch-aS-catch-can nests.
A trap nest is a laying nest so
arranged that after a hen enters 1t
she is confined until released by the
attendant. The use Of trap nests is
essential in breeding poultry for both
egg production and exhibition where
pedigree records are used in select
ing either females or males, and has
place in mass selection for in
creasing egg production. Trap nests
are of value in wedding out poor
layers and increa sing the average
egg yield of the flock. but are not
generally used on account of the
large amount of labor required to
operate them. They merit a place
on breeding farms where they can
| be used in selecting the chaff from
| the wheat in the line of egg produc-
| ton and superior individuals. Some
| poultry breeders trap nest their pull
| let's during their first SIX months
| OF laying and use this as a. basis
| in selecting their breeders for egg
| production.
One Nest for Four Hens
One trap nest should be provided
| for each four hens kept in flockS
| of fifty or more, while more trap
nests are necessary in smaller flocks.
| The hens are marked with numbered
| bands and a record is kept of their
| egg production. The nests should
| be visited at least four times daily
| and preferably much more often,
| frequent trips being especially neces-
| sary when the hens are laying free
| ~ and during hot weather. This
| trap nest may be attached to the
| underside of the dropping board with
! the front facing the pen and ar
| ranged so that it can easily be re-
| moved, or it may be placed on the
| walls of the pen. If the nest is
| placed under the dropping board, the
| latter will serve as top for the
| nest and the rear of the nest may
be of wire to allow good ventilation
| iii warm weather. If the nest is
| placed on the wall Stats or wire
| should be inserted from the front
| of the nest to the wall at a sharp
angle to prevent the hens from roost-
ing on the nest.
Close as You Enter Doors
| When the hen enters this nest
! she raises the door with her back
| which releases the catch or trigger
| and allows the door to shut. The
! catch should be set so that it's edge
| just holds the door which position
| is regulated by a. screw or nail at
the lower inside edge Of the catch.
| Washers should be placed on the
| screw on both sides of the catch
| or trigger TO prevent it from stick
| Ing. The guard around the catch
keeps the nesting material away from
the catch. The length of the catch
which supports the door and the tri-
| angular notch in the door may be
varied slightly for very small OF.
very large hens, if this is found
necessary.
In constructing three-compartment
| trap nests cut four 7-S-inch boards
for end and partitions, twelve inches
wide by eighteen and a half inches
| long, as we'll as three one-half-inch
boards thirty-nine and a half inches
long, laid lengthwise, to cover the
top, back and bottom, and two strips
thirty-nine and a half inches long
and one and a half inches wide for
the front of the nest and for the
| front extended rail. Cut three pieces
of one-half-inch boards, twelve inches
long and three inches high to insert
in the nest to hold the nesting ma
terial away from the door The
total quantity Of material needed
will be one seven eight-inch board
twelve inches wide by eight and a
half inches long for the end, parti~
lions, and front of the nest, and two
one-half-inch boards, ten inches wide
and ten feet long for the top. back,
bottom, and front rail of the nest.
If wire is used on top of the nest,
an equal number of square feet Of
one-half-inch lumber can be sub
tracted from the amount stated. Nail