The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-11-27
Ry MRS. JoHN c. MOSES

by hIND- JOIl4N N+ hOhoIIkot
 Poultrymen have turned topsy -turvy the old adage about the bird in the gilded cage, as they use the gilded cage, in modern bookkeeper to facilitate keeping records of egg production. These records identify the shirkers from the workers in the flock, as well as protect against the loss of valuable eggs produced in catch -as-c -catch-can nests.
 A trap nest is laying nest so arranged that after a hen enters it she is con- fined 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 selecting either females or males, and has a place in mass selec- ton for increasing egg production. Trap nests are of value in wedding out poor layers and increasing 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 place on breeding farms where they can be used in selecting the chaff from the wheat in the line of egg produc- tion and superior individuals. Some poul- try breeders trap nest their bullets dur ing their first six months of laying and use this as a basis in selecting their breeders for egg production.
 One trap nest should be provided for each four or five hens kept in flocks of 50 or more, while more trap nests are necessary in smaller flocks. The hens are marked with numbered bands and record is kept of their egg production The nests should be visited at least four or five times daily, and preferably much more often, frequent trips being espec- 1 ially necessary when the hens are lay 1 ing freely and during hot or extremely cold weather. This trap nest may be attached to the under side of the dropping board with the front facing the pen and arran nged so that it can easily be re- moved, or it may be placed on the walls 1 of the pen. If the nest is placed under the dropping board. the latter will serve as a top for the nest and the rear Of the nest may be of wire to allow good ven- i tilation in warm weather. If the nest | is placed on the wall slats or wire should be inserted from the front of the nest 1 to the wall at a sharp angle to prevent the hens from roostng on the nest. 1 When the hen enters this nest she raises the door with her back which releases the catch or trigger and allows I the door to shut. The catch should be l set so that it's edge just holds the door 1 which position is regulated by screw 1 or nail at the lower inside edge of the | catch Washers should be placed on the screw on both sides of the eaten or rr1g ger to prevent it from sticking. Int
 guard around the catch keeps the nest ing material away from the catch Th' length of the catch which supports the door and the triangular notch in tho
 door may be varied slightly for very
 small or very large hens, if this Is found
 necessary,
 In constructing three-com partment traI
 nests cut four boards for end and parti
 tions, P inches wide by 1872 inches long o-l- incl
 laid lengthwise, to cover the top, baci
 and bottom and two strips S91s inche'
 long and 1h inches wide for the iron
 of the nest and for the front extended
 rail Cut three pieces of half-inch board
 12 inches long and inches high to in
 sert in the nest to hold the nesting ma l terial away from the door The tota quantity of material needed will be on board F inches wide by S1a inches lon' for the end, partitions and front of tn nest and two boards 10 inches wide ant 10 feet long for the top, back, bottom and front rail of the nest. If wire l used on top of the nest an equal mum
 Der of square feet of lumber can b
 subtracted from the amount stated Maj
 the top, back and bottom to the end
 and partitions insert the 3-inch strinp
 in the nests, and make the guard, nail
 ing it to the left side of the nest Bor
 a hole in the catch large enough SC
 
 that it will move freely when screwed into position on the side, and use wash
 CT on both sides of the catch.
 This catch should be made Of hart
 wood so that 1t will not wear readily
 around the screw which holds it in place The catch is made of material one-hal1 1 inch thick and one and one-half inches wide at the upper end and one inch ! wide at the lower end. Place a screw at the lower edge of the catch to stor it when set so that the catch will just hold he door.
 Make the doors of seven eights incl
 material, 12 inches by inches and cut A triangular notch in the center inches
 wide. Put two screw eyes in the tor of the doc rand bore holes in the from of the nests inches below the tor dnside measurement, through which three -sixteenths-inch wire is run to sup port the door. Attach & narrow .strir
 to the front of the nests for the hens