Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-04-15

state found in the immature pullet.
Another good example of this dried
up condition may be found in the fowl
half way through the molt, in which
the abdominal section that was for
merly relaxed and distended is drawn
well up into the body; the pelvic
bones that were once pliable and
spread apart are rigid and close to-
gether; and the comb and wattleS
that were pendulous and brightly col
ored, are now pale ad shrivelled to a
third of their former size. Her entire
attitude is sluggish and Indifferent
Still another point that should re-
ceive proper consideration: When a
hen is permitted to get in poo: con-
dition, either by raising a brood of
chicks, or by prolonged idlencss on
the nest, her plumage, like her body,
becomes dried up, and at certain sea-
sons of the year this will throw her
into an early molt. To prolong the
life of the feather the hen must be
kept in the pink of condition; her APP
petite must be stimulated so that she
will eat large quantities of food. and
thus keep her body well nourished,
and her plumage sleek and virile, in
which case she will continue laying
throughout the summer, and the molt
means greatly increased profits, for it
should be remembered that the eggs
produced in August bring about the
same prices as the January eggs.
Breaking the Broody Hen
We have shown that for economical
reasons alone it is imperative that
Eroodiness should be broken up, and
the sooner this condition is discovered
and coped with. the easier it is ac-
1s.1, L. -.
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 therefore make
it his business to go over all the nests
at the close of each day, and remove
therefrom any fowls that show tell
tale signs, such as clucking or ruffl-
ing of the feathers. Hens have no
business on the nests at night under
any circumstances. AS the ''clucks"
are removed they should be taken to a
special coop, built for the purpose of
breaking them from their cherished
hopes.
There are many ways of discourag-
ing broodiness, but, as common sense
dictates. the methods employed should
not subject the hens to cruelty or pri-
walton. Aside from humane reasons,
to half starve or i'll treat the fowls, or
to keep them from water, defeats the
very object of breaking up the broodi-
ness, since privation or cruelty tend
to check egg production rather than
to stimulate it. The old-fashioned
ideas of inflicting some form of pun
ishment upon the unoffending biddy,
simply because she responded to
natural impulse. really invited further
loss in eggs hence they cannot be too
strongly condemned.
One of the simplest ways to discour-
age broodiness is to place the hens in
a coop having a Slated bottom that is
raised somewhat off the floor or
ground. The hens are unable to squat
in q comfortable position, and the SEN
sation of currents of air under them
instead of eggs Is very disconcerting.
Two or three days of 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 layinghouse. They should
be induced to eat and drink freely
while in this confinement, and If pos
sible to exercise.
Where fowls are kept in large num-
bers. another good plan is to place
the "clucks" in a yard containing az
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
ot night as we'll