Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 237, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1911 — POULTRY ROTES [ARTICLE]

POULTRY ROTES

Confining broody hens in a tight coop without food or water for several days, as practiced by some, will, no doubt, break them, but. when they are released from their prison tokens are nearer dead than alive ana in no condition to resume laying immediately. When a hen first becomes broody ii is better to let her sit for a few days giving the hen a rest and allowing her system to recuperate and then break her up. After remaining on the nest two oi three the hen may then be confined in an airy coop or pen, large enough to admit of exercise but fret from anything of which she coulc make a nest. —_ Feed her lightly and give her plenty of water.

Another good jail for the broody hen is a small coop with a slat bot tom through which the air can cir dilate. . A sitting hen 'must feel the sensation of warmth under her body when she is on the nest else she will soon give up the work. When confined in a coop such as mentioned and the coop is raised a few inches from the ground the her will soon discover that it is impos sible to import warmth to anything and the broody fever will soon abate Wherever the' hen is confined, however. don’t withhold food or watei and when released she will be ready to commence laying again in a short time. If it is not the intention to set them it don’t pay to let the broody hens remain on the nest without attempting to break them up. 77 if allowed to occupy the nests as long“asTThey are disposed they will often sit for weeks and may not start to lay again for several months. Good, dean runs are a delight to the hens. Sometimes litter gets so filthy that it is worse than none. Turkey eggs set this moi th should give good salable carcasses for Christmas feasts. Leave it to the old hen to pick out the best nest to lay in. She can do it better than yqu can. Two sprinklings a week with kerosene oil should keep the house free from insect pests. But be thorough. Get the screens over the windows now, so that intruders will not disturb your favorites while they are asleep at night. Are you troubled with crows about your chicken yard? Cover the pens with wlia netting. That will fool the thieves, . ... ... Overfeeding must be avoided, as must also underfeeding. Either ex treme will stunt the growth of the young stock. Can't expect to succeed with broody hens, incubators and liple chicks these days, unless we stay close a home to meet all emergenc es. Feed ery little soft feed and yo<. win raise* more chicks. If you hiik: feed soft stuff don t throw it upon the ground. Feed it in a small trough or on a clean board. In heavy-soil localities, gapes artapt to attack young chicks, especially when quartered bn damp, heavy ground. In light, sandy soils this disease is practically unknown. Look suspiciously at eggs that have been laid in a stolen nest. They may be all right, but lest them carefully lest you lead some one who buys then: to say things that will make your ears burn.