The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

proper consideration: When a hen is per mitted to get in a poor condition, either by raising brood of chicks, or by pro- longed idleness on the nest, her plumage, like her body, becomes dried up, and at certain seasons of the year this will throw her into an early mott. To pro- long the life of the feather the hen must be kept in the pink of condition; her appetite must be stimulated so that she will eat large quantities of food, and tEus keep her body well nourished, and her plumage sleek and virile, in which case she will continue laying throughout the summer, and the mott will be deferred until autumn. This means greatly in creased profits, for it should be remem- bered that the eggs produced in August bring about the same prices as the Jan uary eggs
 BREAKING THE BROODY HEN
 We have shown that for economical reasons alone it is imperative that brood : mess should be broken up, and the sooner this condition is discovered and coped with, the easier it is accomplished. A hen removed from the nest on the first or second day of her broody inclination is very much easier to discourage than the hen that has been allowed to have her own way in the matter for a week or more. The wise poultryman will there fore make it his business to go over all the nests at the close of each day, and remove therefrom any fowls that show 'telltale'' signs, such as clucking or ruff fling of the feathers. Hens have no busi- ness on the nests at night under any circumstances. As the "clucks' are re- moved they should be taken to a special coop, built for the purpose of breaking them from their cherished hopes.
 There are many ways of discouraging broodiness but, as common sense die tates, the methods employed should not subject the hens to cruelty or privation. Aside from humane reasons, to half starve or i'll treat the fowls, or to keep them from water, defeats the very ob- ject of breaking up tht broodiness, since privation or cruelty tends to check egg production rather than to stimulate it. The old-fashioned ideas of inflicting some form of punishment upon the unoffend ing biddy, simply because she responded to natural impulse really invited fur ther loss in eggs, hence they cannot be too strongly condemned
 One of the simplest ways to discourag ge broodiness is to place the hens in coop having a slated bottom that is raised somewhat off the floor or ground. The hens are unable to squat in comfortable position, and the sensation of currents of air under them instead of eggs is very disconcerting. Two or three days O. this harmless pillory usually disgusts them with the idea of wanting to hatch brood of chicks and when released they are only too anxious to rejoin their com rades in the laying house. They should be induced to eat and drink freely while in this confinement, and if possible to exercise.
 Where fowls are kept in large numbers, another good plan is to place the "clucks'' in yard containing a few lively cockerels, where there is nothing for the hens to take refuge in for a nest. If the weather is mild and the yard is sheltered on one side, no harm will result if they are left out at night as well.
 Eggs are now so plentiful and cheap, we are apt to forget the high prices paid for them last fall and winter. But they will be just as high next autumn, maybe higher, consequently it behooves the wise housewife to lay in supply now, and preserve them for future use. The idea is entirely practicable, and it has been done very successfully for a number of years The subject has come up before many of the women's clubs