The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1919-11-28

i Ht ment or Agriculture.)
Poultry men have turned topsy
turvey the old adage about the bir,
In the gilded cage, as they use tn,
gilded cage, in the guise of modern
trap nest, as a modern bookkeeper t
facilitate keeping records of egg pro
duction. These records identify thu
strikers from the workers in the flock
as well as protect against the loss o.
valuable eggs produced In catch-as
catch-can nests. n
A trap nest is laying nest so ar
ranged that after hen enters it SHE
Is. confined until released by the at
tendant. The use of trap nests is, es
sential in breeding poultry for botl
egg production and exhibition where
pedigree records are used in select
ing either females or males, and has
a place In mass selection for increas.
ing 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
a 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
poultry breeders trap nest their pull
lets during their first six months Of
laying and use this as basis in select
ing their breeders for egg production
One Nest for Four Hens.
One trap nest should be provided
for each four hens kept in flocks of
90 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 produc-
ton. The nests. should be visited at
least four times daily and preferably
much more often, frequent trips be-
ing especially necessary when the
hens are laying freely and during hot
weather. This trap nest may be at
tached to the underside Of the drop
ping board with the front facing the
pen and arranged so that 1t can easily
be removed, or 1t may be placed on
the walls Of the PEI. II the nest il
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 in warm
weather. II the nest Is placed on the
wall, Stats or wire should be inserted
from the front Of the nest to the wall
at sharp angle to prevent the hens
from roosting on the nest.
Close az You Enter Doors.
When the hen enters this nest she
raises the door with her back which |
releases the catch or trigger and al
lows the door to shut. The catch |
should be set so that its edge just |
holds the door, which position is regu- |
lated by 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 pre-
vent 1t from sticking. The guard |
around the catch keeps the nesting |
material away from the catch. The
length of the catch which supports the !
door and the triangular notch in the |
door may be varied. slightly for very |
small or very large hens, II this is |
found necessary.
In constructing three-cOmpartment |
trap nests cut four seven-eighths-inch |
boards for ends and partitions, II |
inches wide by 1871 inches long, as |
well as three one-half-inch boards |
39h inches long, laid lengthwise, to
cover the top, back, and bottom, and
two strips 39h inches long and III
inches wide for the front Of the nest
and for the front extended rail. Cut |
three pieces of one-half-inch boards
II inches long and 3 inches high
to insert in the nest to hold the nest
Ing material away from the door. The
total quantity of material needed will
be one seven-eighths-inch board IL
inches wide by 81 feet long for the
ends, partitions and front Of the nest,
and two one-half-inch boards 10l
inches wide and 10 feet long for the
top, back, bottom, and front rail Of
the nest. II wire is used on top of
the nest, an equal number Of square /
feet of one-half-inch lumber can be
subtracted from the amount stated.
Nail the top, back, and bottom to the
ends and partitions, ifAert the three
inch strips In the nests, and make the
guard, mailing II to the left side of
the nest. Bore hole In the catch
arge enough so that It will move
Freely when screwed into position on
he side, and use washer on both
'ides of the catch. h.
Completing the Nest. A
This catch should be made Of hard
wood 30 that It win not wear readily |
lround the screw which holds Il In
,lace. The catch 10 made Of material
'ne-half inch thick and % ~ inches
vide at the upper end and inch |
hide 1t the lower end. Place . screw
4 the lower sdgs Of the catch to stopl