Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-12-12
A BIRD IN THE HAND
Especial Service Department
"Gilded Cage for Hens
Keeps Tab on Egg Flow
FockO wner for Record and o
the

Poultrymen have turned topsy-
turvy the old adage about the bird
gilded cage, in the guise of modern
trap nest. as modern bookkeeper to
facilitate keeping records of egg pro-
duction. 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-catch-can nests.
! A trap nest is a laying nest so ar
ranged that after q hen enters it she
/ IS confined until released by the at
/ tendant The use of trap nests is es-
sential 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 selection for increasing
egg production. Trap nests are of
value in wedding out poor layers and
increasing the average egg yield of
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
viduals. Some poultry breeders trap
nest their pullets during their first
six months of laying and use this as
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
SO or more, while more trap nests
are necessary in smaller focks The
hens are marked with numbered
bands and 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 necessary when
the hens are laying freely and during
hot weather. This trap nest may be
attached to the underside of the drop
ping board with the front facing the
pen and arranged so that it can easily
be removed, 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 rest 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 a sharp angle to prevent |
the hens from roosting on the nest.
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 reg
dlated 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 it from sticking The guard
around the catch keeps the nesting
away from the catch. The
ength of the catch which supports.the 1
door and the triangular notch in the Il
door may be varied slightly for very
small or very large hens, if this is
found necessary
In constructing three-compartment |
trap nests cut four rs inch boards
Tor end and partitions. IL inches
wide by 1872 inches long, as well as
three II inch boards 80 " inches long
aid lengthwise, TO cover the top,
back and bottom, and two strips 39k
inches long and l II inches wide for
he front of the nest and for the
ront extended rail. Cut three pieces
If " inch boards IL inches long and
inches high to insert in the nest to
hold the nesting material away from
he door. The total quantity of ma
erial needed will be one 7,S inch
'oard IL inches wide by 81 inches
ong for the end, partitions and front