POULTRY NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 16

POULTRY NOTES

CLUCKINU HENS. Where incubators are not used broody hens are in great request at this time of the year in order to bring out chickens that will be fit for the table when the best prices are obtainable, or to hatch some pullets for laving in the next summer and winter. But when no more chickens are desired, and when the warm weather sets in the frequency with which hens will become broody is annoying. The poor things are only seeking to follow their natural instincts, and to bring out a brood of chicks after they have laid their quota of eggs. But nowadays a hen is expected to produce a large number of eggs in the year,,and to do this she must be kept at work, even though her inclinations are to rest and sit quietly for at least twenty-one davs. And frequently broodiness is opposed'to egg production. If non-sitting breeds of fowls are kept this clucking hen trouble does not arise. The majority of poultry-keeper*-, however, still prefer either mongrel hens—or sitting breeds, because amongst the latter are the layers of the brown eggs in such request. In a small run it is troublesome to have the hens taking to the nests, screaming and clucking when touched, aud laying no eggs. How to cure the hens of broodiness,is a question often asked. Some of the methods that aro tried arc. not only quite useless, but decidedly cruel. A west country nostrum, happily now rarely practised, is to tpek the head of the hen under her wing, swing her round, aud then hold her tinder water for half a minute. Another, also strongly to be condemned, is to shut the bird up in a box in the dork for three clays without food or water. One person who tried these was fain to confess that they were quite ineffectual. A plan which is stated to prove successful is to freely wet the nest the hen has taken to, and which she is then said to be glad to leave. The only effective and simple method is to remove the hens from the nest the fii-st evening that they arc seen there aud place them in a coop. This should stand in a light spot—not in the dark—in the run with the other fowls, but not exposed to the sun. The ’clunkers musjt be allowed plenty of grain to eat, and w’ater to drink. Under these conditions they will not got thin or weak, but will lose their wish to sit in three or four days, and be ready to recommence laying very soon. Towards the end of the laying season, and when the birds are nearing the moult, it is sometimes advantageous to allow the clucking hens to sit for a short time. They ' need not have any eggs placed under them, as they will be quite content with a china egg.- After they have sat for a fortnight or so, and are then put in a coop, they will probably break, into moult. Birds treated in this way will pass quickly through the moult, and commence to lay. again when eggs

are scarce and dear, and when the other hens are losing their feathers. The advantage of keeping a non-sitting breed of fowl is very apparent at this season. Snail poultry keepers, in particular, will find them much less trouble than sitting varieties, for the latter require more space, as room has to be founu lor the clucking hens. The uon-&itters, however, lay white eggs, though this should really be no disadvantage.