A HYPNOTISED HEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

A HYPNOTISED HEN.

Made to Hatch Chicks Against Her Will. A distinguished correspondenb of bhe 'London Budgeb' says: ' Wibhin the last: monbh I have made an interesting experiment with fowls. Some choice eggs being sent to me for hatching purposes, and; having no hen ab that time broody and no incubator, I determined to set one of my bens on these eggs and keep her there by force of mesmeric power. The eggs were nob fresh when I received bhem, and bo keep them with the uncertain hope of a hen becoming broody mighb have been fatal bo bheir hatching. I therefore went against nature and set my hen upon bhose eggs. ' She was in full lay ab bhe time and remained so throughoub bhe three weeks she was sitting, laying according bo her wonb two out of every bhree days. Those who understand poultry will aggreciate that no hon will do this withoub becoming naturally boody, albhough for bhe first day or two after being set on eggs I have had hens Jay once or even twice. By marking bhe eggs I seb her upon I was able bo know and withdraw bhe eggs she kepb laying. * The first day I placed her on the eggs ib took me half-an-hour to bring her into a hypnotic condition, but each successive day, after having roused her to drink and eat,, I was able to soothe her to drowsy placidity. There were days for which I can give no reason when I had to go to her more than once in the day, she being in a restless, excited state, trying to get off tho nest. The result has been, much to my astonishment, bhab four oub of seven of these eggs are batched and are healthy, happy little chickens. At night I can still influence their mother to her maternal duties, bub in bhe daytime she takes no notice of them.'