The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-01

A0A OSSS WACu o SOAI SpOG vi Ou0 Gnu 6S
large as q ten-cent silver piece; two
days later there was another Just like
it, excepting the soft spot was a little
larger. The next egg was soft all
over; just q yelk and white albumen
inclosed in q cunning bag of skin,
without seam or opening. The next
egg had no bag whatever, neither was
it in the nest, orthere itlay sad-look-
ing mess on the hen-coop floor. She
laid no more eggs at this time, for on
that very day the boys brought big
Betty to me to be doctored, and surely
no patient ever needed physician
more. Her feet and limbs were dead
looking and curled up. She could not
stand, but Topped right over every
time we tried her. She would not eat,
she would not drink. She lay like one
dead, excepting that she evidently had
not lost consciousness, for her eye was
as bright and intelligent as in her best
days. What to do with her 1 did not
know, and as was busy preparing for
company, told the boys to carry her
to one corner of. the cellar and when
had leisure 1 would attend to her case.
In little while one of the boys came
running excitedly to me. "Oh, man.
ma" he said, lido please come down
cellar just minute. We have found
out what is the matter. The old goose
eats glass! should think she would die.
Do please come, mamma, and attend
to her." Thus importuned, I went
down stairs to see how matters were.
Big Betty, as the family all had called
her since she was six months old. being
at that time in full plumage and very
large and handsome, lay on her side
with dropping wings and distended
neck, while the boys declared she had
actually swallowed two small pieces of
glass which happened to be on the
cellar floor. "Maybe you do not be-
lieve it, because you think we are mis-
taken?' said my youngest boy. II
wish could find some more bits Just to
show YOU" 80, yes, do" I replied.
IL have often seen pieces of corner
worn glass in the gizzard of fowls de-
signed for the table, and there is no
doubt they need some hard substance
to reduce the unground food they eat.
Perhaps she needs gravel or glass;" l
continued, as looked among the old
bottles for q cracked one which could
be broken into small pieces as an ex-
pertinent. l found a discarded lamp
chimney which was soon reduced and
offered to the patient. Did ever sick
show more zeal for medicine! Peck,
peck, peck, peck-then q rest for q
minute; then peck, peck, peck again,
till all was eaten but q few pieces not
broken fine enough. "She Is a goner
now" said w.; "she'I never get over
that meal. Just feel of her craw
gently, however, or she will be
dreadfully cut with those sharp edges"
Sure enough, her craw, which had
been empty as bag of wind, was now
as large as q turkeys egg, and you
could hear the glass rub together. I
gave the children instructions not to
touch her craw again, but to leave
water and corn and not disturb her.
That night Big Betty Brahma was able
to hold on to the top of the coal bin
side, and held on all night. The next
day she returned to her accustomed
haunts around the hen-coops, and in q
little over q week laid good solid egg,
and has never had q return of her sick
ness.
We have had much snow this winter,
but 1 have occasionally broken a
cracked bottle or chimney for the use
of the hens. They all take q few pieces,
but the brahma is the champion glass
eater, while now and then she drives
the other hens away and returns to fin
ish the repast. Not mouth since l
chopped up q half-pint bottle and she
ate it all, excepting few pieces the
other hens took and the bottom which
would not break up fine.
am afraid many readers may doubt
the truth of my statement, or at any
rate shake their heads and say it is an
exaggerated newspaper yarn, but
assure such ones that have notin any
particular overstepped the boundary Of
actual fact. Whether poultry will eat
glass or refuse it is easily tested by Of
fering them q few pieces not larger
than small kernels of corn, though per-
haps chickens who are well provided
with variety of gravel, burnt bones
and lime would not take it with the
same avidity as did our Big Betty
Brahma Christian Union,