The Portland daily press., 1879-04-24
AGRICULTURAL.
Feather Eating in Fowls.

Fowls contract many pernicious habits
while kept in confinement with nothing to
do, chief of which is the disagreeable one of
pluckiDg feathers from each other. This ac-
quired habit arises from idleness and lack
OF something better to do, but when once
established is difficult to eradicate. We may
weed out as much as we will, there is often
one dehnquent remaining that teaches all
Inc DINERS. An expert at the business will
soon strip cock of his pluniAge and leave
the bare shafts bereft of all web or coloring,
wnen not plucked out entirely, leaving the
body bare, and yet the poor hen. pecked roos-
ter will stand up, passive victim, TO be de-
spoiled by his voracious mates, A pin-feather
is never allowed to remain on the bare skin.
This trick, believe, is contracted in the first
place more generally among fowls that carry
body vermin, and cocks are more apt to lose
their feathers than hens, from their very gal
liant refusal to cross the females in their idle
whims.
Polling feathers is not confined to one
breed, and is often simultaneous with egg eat
Ing. When fowls are confined, there is a lack
OF occupation, and 1t is natural for them TO be
occupied and active when in health. When
we consider the amount of running, scratch
ing and exercise fowls indulge in when at
large we must readily admit the fact that
they require some employ ment that will an
swer to this necessity. since it appears to be
an actual requirement The habit that is
formed in confinement still hangs to them
when at large and cannot be broken up so
long as victim is found willing to submit.
1t Is first learned, l believe, when roostng in
1dieness ia the winter season, by discovering
the moving insects about the head aud ears
oil the cocks, since it is there they commence
their Expectations After the first COM
mencement there is little ceremony If the
male be submissive. There is sometimes
found COCK that will not allow it, but not
often. A speck of blood on the plumage is
often the occasion OF beginning. Fowls are
greedy after fresh blood, and will almost
always pluck the juicy pin feathers from each
others bodies for the sake of the drop OF
blood contained therein. At the moultiDg
season they are quiet and have no vicious
appetites to crafty ta M
Our domestic fowls are the filthiest Of all
birds, not excepting the crow, and enjoy the
most filthy ct possible 10 imagine, and yet
what a rare tidblt the various dishes OF fowl
are Tor the palate OF the epc0rei 1t Is for
the lack OF an opportunity to indulge their
natural he bits that leads them into mischief.
Generally egg eating is brought about from
the hab, of scratching in the nests. This
exe;tion is as natural for the hen as it is for
her to breathe. In the action, If there be
any eggs in the nest, they become broken
and the hen feasts thereon and she is thus
taught bad lesson. Still another way is
through the means of soft shelled eggs.
Where comparatively small number OF
fowls are congregated, these tricks do not pre-
vail to SO large an extent. For this reason,
and others, it is better to confine the chicks
in small colonies. Young birds are not so
bad as old ones. The writer has thought
that the White Leghorns and Black Spanish
are. the very worst at feather-eating, but COM
mon sense teaches the error, since it is con-
fined to no one breed, but some are worse
than Others. and these are the rapid layers,
and non-stters. The great drain or egg pro
duction creates craving for other food than
what reaches them in confinement. Hence
the habit is formed of plucking anything
within reach. But there are cases of down
right mischief and nothing else, where the
bird has no need Of such food. There is no
cure, although when the weather comes
warm and grass is plenty, they will abandon
1t for season, but are sure to remember it
the following winter. u