The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-22

foulIrymen nave turned topSy-
turvey the old adage about the bird
in the gilded cage, in the guise of a
modern 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 we'll as protect
against the loss of valuable eggs pro-
duced In catch-as-catch can nests.
A trap nest is a laying nest so
arranged that after hen antels it
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 selecting
either females or males, and has
place IN mass selection for increas-
ing egg production. Trap nests are
of value in wedding out poor layers
and Increasing the average egg
cid of the flock, but arc no! Cener-
ally used on account of the large
amount of labor required to operate
them. They merit place on breed
ing farms where they can be used
IN selecting the chaff from the wheat
II the line of egg production and su-
perlor individuals. Some poultry
breeders trap nest their pullets dur
ing 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 fiocks of
90 OF more, while more trap nests are
necessary in smaller fiocks. The
hens are marked with numbered
bands and a record is kept of their
egr production. The nests should be
visited at least four times daily and
preferably much more often, fire.
que.s trip being especially necessary
when the hens are laying freely ami
during hot weather. This trip nest
may be attached to the underside of
the dropping board with the front
facing the pen and arranged so thar
it can easily be removed, OF it may
be placed on the walls of the pen. If
the nest is placed under tho drop.
ping board, the latter will serve as
a top for the nest and the rear of
the nest may be of wire to allow
good ventilation in 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
sharp angle to prevent the hens from
roosting 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 al
lows the door to shut The catch
should be set so that its edge Just
holds the door, which position is re-
gulated by a screw or nail at the
lower inside edge of the catch. Wash
els should be placed on the screw
on both sides of the catch or trigger
to prevent it 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 tri-
angular notch in the door may be
varied slightly for very small or very
large hens, if this is found necessary.
In constructing three-compart-
ment trap nests cut four 7-S inch
boards for end and partitions, ~
inches wide by 1872 inches long, as
we'll as three Y inch boards 391a
inches ding, laid lengthwise, to COW
er the top, back, bottom, and two
strips 391a inches long and u inches
wide for the front of the nest and for
the front extended rail- Cut three
pieces of u inch boards IL inches
long and inches high to insert in
the nest to hold the nesting materi-
al away from the door. The total
quantity of material needed will be
one 78 inch board II inches wide by
81 inches long for the end, parti-
tions, and front of the nest, and two
u inch boards 10 inches wide and 10 |
feet long for the top, back, bottom,