Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/40

. Restudy of all plans is suggested before any building is undertaken, since the builder may finally decide to build after one general plan but may include minor features he may prefer in another. That is why these optional features are carefully presented herein.

Again, a beginner may ask, "Is it worth going to the trouble of making pens with guard boards, corner posts, removable tops, and a lot of fangles and dangles?" Much of the small stripping materials used in such pens may be had as a gift from any mill or carpenter shop, since such scrap material has no value to them. Pens of the author's preference type have been in use for more than three years with no repairs except for replacement of some of the corner posts, and the tongues (Tg.) to some of the rear inspection doors.



Those doors may be worth their construction each time they are opened.

Pen habits shown in Illus 31: Dash outline of nest. Cup or bowl of nest, C:B. Food stores, F.S.

Droppings tray, 8x37, may be used in the manner described in Chapter 20. If desired, one may simply add extra layers of newspaper instead of placing other absorbent substance in bottom of tray.

Feed Chute with Trough: The writer prefers to open each pen for each feeding, to place food somewhere on that front portion of the floor board shown as F.P. in plans. Such feeding cultivates acquaintance with the animals, makes them friendly, and keeps caretaker informed as to each pen's status. Therefore, he seldom uses feed chutes, except to experiment with feeding devices as such. The feed chute used in the front door of a pen with front floor area self-cleaning must be a chute with trough to prevent smaller food falling through self-cleaning area into droppings tray. Illus. 49 shows such a feed chute for the benefit of