Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/41

 those who desire to try it. A piece of tin or galv. metal is cut to 8$5/8$ long and 5$1/4$ wide at its widest part. It is then cut on all solid lines, and folded along all dash lines. Portions marked X are removed. Holes are punched or drilled at points shown (H). It is suggested that a first pattern be made of paper to learn the technique of cutting, folding, etc. Then, make one of metal for actual use. Illus. 50 shows feed chute in position on door, as per side view. Chute should be installed at such height that the top of the trough will be at least 3 inches above the pen floor, that animals may stand on hind feet and fill their cheek pouches instead of pawing the food onto the floor. With this in mind, an opening not more than 2$1/4$ inches wide, not more than $1/2$ inch high, is cut into the hdw. cl. on the door. The feed chute has been assembled first, but the sides of the trough (s.t.) are merely folded upward and in enough to pass through the opening in the hdw. cl. Insert trough through door. Lower ends of trough fronting against door, shown as U, are then bent upward against inside of door as in Illus. 50. Trough front (f.t.) is bent to straighten-up position. Then, trough sides (s.t.) bend straight-up. Next, bend ends a, b, c and d around the corners as in top view, shown in Illus. 51. Wire (W) is run through holes (H) to secure top of chute to door's hdw. cl. front. In the pattern, Illus. 49, F is fronting the pen; S is side; B is back, away from pen door; in the trough, b.t. is back, s.t. is side, f.t. is front, and fir. is floor of the trough itself. The use of any feeding chute is optional. F.C., Illus. 47, shows position of chute on door. Illus. 52 gives a top and side view of a modified form of the same chute, the trough to slide through opening in hdw. cl. of door.

Water should be available at all times.

If a small jar is used, a piece of No. 4 or 6 hdw. cl. may be inserted into the jar for a climbing strip. Young



Bottle and Tube Waterer

falling into the jar may thus climb out. Strip should fit tightly into jar and extend at an angle somewhat above the top of the jar. Such strip is not needed for adults or weaned young. Many prefer the bottle and tube waterer. Any bottle with opening suitable for a drilled rubber stopper may