Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-07
Breaking Up Brood Hens
To PrOI0ng Egg Production

brood OF chicks She has completed
the first step in the operation-the
laying of the eggs. and quite naturally
feels that she cannot acquit herself
of the responsibility until she has
transformed them into flock of
chicks. Hens of the heavier varieties.
such as the plymouth Rocks. Wyan-
dottcs. Orpinetons and Brahmas are
especially prone to this form of do>
mcstlcity. yet the desire is also found
among the lighter breeds, even to the
so called non-Sitting breeds. the Leg
norhs, Campincs and Ilamburgs. In
the latter. however. the tendency Is
not so hnbitual. not so likely to be
difficult to break up.
1t Is not definitely known whether
a hen can control the development
OF an egg once the yolk is well formed
and has left the ovisac, but IT is quite
certain that she can influence or check
the development of the Yolks at the
beginning OF the process. and she also
has the power to hold the finished
egg for "A considerable time. when a
hen becomes hroody and shows a de-
termination to SIT on the nest day after
day, for in many cases the desire is
but "A passing fancy the succeeding
cluster Of egg cells is held In dor
mant state for two or three months. or
until she has Matched, reared and
weancd her brood of chicks. and sub
scuucntly rcinvigoratcd herself for
further produCtiyencss.
ON farms devoted to egg production,
where the incubation and brooding is
done artfcially. the hen is not held
responsible for the production of next
seasons pullcts. II is the hens eX-
elusive business to produce eggs. con-
Soquently she must be encouraged in
that speciality as much as possible AS
soon ms she shows signs of shrking
her task. she must he held to a strict
accountability" her broodincss must
be discouraged harmlessly, not bru-
tally-and her internal workings"
stimulated and spurred on to further
achievements.
Even on the general farm, where
chicks are reared naturally, there are
times when more hens become broody
than are ever needed to hatch the
allowed to sit as long as they choose.
without interference from the farmer,
although he may not give them eggs
to sit upon, the habit soon becomes
confirmed and there ~ a very notice
able decrease in egg production. Fail
ure to discourage hroodincss is prob
ably the most potent cause for the low
egg production in farm flocks. and for
which the farmer has nothing to
blame but his own indifference or
ignorance.
Egg Production is Secondary.
We have all noticed the poor, thin
and emaciatod condition of the hen
that has been sitting on a nest for a
couple OF weeks. and perhaps mar
veled at her ability TO sustain life at
all. when we consider that she eats
and drinks very little, and takes prac-
tically no exercise. II IL were not for
her internal storchouso. on which she
draws heavily for sustenance. she
would not survive. Before she started
to sit. she carefully stored up a supply
OF fatty tissue that was intended to
help nourish her during the period
Of her inactivity, and the dcpreci-
alton Of this supply is what causes her
10 become So thin.
Egg production is in reality the re
suit Of oNorstimulaton, or what is
sometimes termed secondary circu-
lauon. Fowls eat to repair and restore
the daily wear and tear on the body
tissues. and II this nourishment is
merely equal 10 this task alone there
is no surplus left TO go to the pro-
ducuon OF eggs. II is the excess of