| Show I t to toB B use user iss I I r r Paltry i i Icy Dr L D V S SSt I II I St Louis Mo I I Dr LeGear is 9 a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College e i t 1892 Thirty Thirty sic six years lears of veter- veter veter-L veter L I inary practice on livestock I Ii i stock and poultry Eminent au- au authority authority j au-j on poultry and stock raising Nationally known poultry poul- poul poultry try breeder Noted author and Cl popular M lecturer WHEN MAKERS EGG GO ON A STRIKE Broody liens Hens Represent an Eco Eco- Economic Economic Economic Loss When Not Needed forI for I ft Measures Meas- Meas Measures Hatching Harsh Hatching Harsh and Cruel ures Not Needed to Overcome O Broodiness In a recent radio talk Ra Raymond stated that even though he had called all aU his hens together and scolded them severy they still refused to by lay any eggs for him Not many people would employ the thc famous comedians comedian's method for try try- trying trying try trying ing ing to get g-et eggs but many of the ways used to break herts of broodiness ness ness are just as ridiculously ineffective ineffective tive It is really important that better bet bet- better bet better ter gays ays of overcoming broodiness should be known A brod brody hen is an unprofitable hen especially where m ors do all the hatching Con Con- Consequently Consequently the sooner her broodiness ss can be broken up th the sooner she can be begin in once more to earn her board and lodging It is a mistake to frighten a broody hen by t tying ing red ribbons to her tail plunging her into cold water or con con- confining confining con confining fining fining- her in a closed box without water or light Such methods belong to the dark ages of poultry They do not actually cure broodiness but only put the hen in poor 1001 flesh and health The only way to get et a hen out of this condition is isto ista to tJ r get t her mind off the subject so soto soto soto to speak so she will once more begin eating and drinking in normal fash- fash on cn One good g way to accomplish this is is to confine one or more broody hens hensin hensin hensin in in a small coop with a n vigorous male ss can also be easily and humanely overcome through h the use of brody coops The important thin thing in in u using n such a coop is 13 to get g-et the broody hen into the ver very first da day she he shows any sign of that condition Ii this is done she will forget her broodiness in less than half lulf the time that will be needed ne-ded if she is is to stay on the nest two three or fOil four I days The longer long broodiness s is isa s a to the harder it IS is isto isto t to overcome and the greater will ho he hethe bethe the loss of e egg production I shall describe two broody coops that I have found und exceptionally lly effective For jut just ju t one hen make a 1 coop coop coop-by 2 by 2 by 2 feet teet The sides are to be beof beof of cf slats for ventilation and the top solid for protection Using a single pe r pe or wire fasten fastened d to the center of the top hang this coop from any convenient rafter or branch of or a tree Such Sucha a coop will sway with every guest Jest of or wind ind and with every step the hen nm n takes That will keep her so 4 I busy trying hying to retain her balance that J J she soon oon forgets her broodiness The s second ond form m of broody COO coop I Wish The to describe may be 00 used with good effect when a number of hens hensal al about decide to go KO on a strike at the same time This coop should be 3 by 4 or Ot 4 by 5 feet and two feet deep The sides should of be made s slats a 15 or poultry netting and the floor eIther cimer Slatted slatted or solid A good roof should be provided end and should extend fur enough on each cach each side to give ive good protection from the rain This coap should be at least 2 or 3 feet off the ground to allow for good circulation of air allaround all around the is hens hns h ns This very important as broody hens should be kept cool From three to six hens may Bray be placed in this coop and ami kept in it da day and ni night ht It should be put in in a cool shady spot instead of the sun water Plenty of good feed an and clean wa- wa wa ter should be kept within easy reach of broody hens the whole time the they are arc confined in a broody coop This is very important and should not De neglected neg un under cr nn any circumstances Hens liens so 50 constantly fuss amon among themselves which tends to tomake tomake tomake make them for forget et their broodiness See Seeing ng other fowls at liberty also helps considerably to speed up the end of brood broody spells This metho method should hould have the desired effect in from Irom three to five da days s 's It is a particular particular- particularly h ly good g method not only because of its effectiveness but because it is is ab- ab ab absolutely Jim Better ct cr than any method of curing eliminating broodiness is the plan for eliminating ing ing mg it now being su used my many poultry raisers With careful breeding it is possible to develop n a astrain astrain strain of sitters non-sitters or hens that will ViII not go brood broody Only hens heM that do donot donot donot not go o broody should be used for breeding and if jf care is used in select select- in ing selecting just the right ht hens broodiness can be practically eliminated in a ar afew afew r few W generations A brood broody hen unless needed for hatching eggs hatching e is simply a nuisance and an unnecessary nuisance at that It is so easy to break break up the habit there thele is is no reason son why it should be tolerated anda and a great eat many reasons that every poultry raiser knows well why it should not be tolerated But Butto Butto Butto to be one must not make the mistake of using the harsh me- me methods methods me methods once so much in vogue The right way is always the cheap eat cst and best t That is why I recommend recommend recommend mend sane humane methods of cur cur- curi curing cur curing i ing broodiness They work along scientific lines by not trying to scare the hen out of her broodiness but by replacing ng the brooding idea with something else This method brings per cent success because it leav leav- leaves leaves es s the hen in excellent 1 physical h con con- condition condition ready and willing to resume her profitable job of laying eg eggs s Diplomacy and gentle methods are just as superior to force when whon deal deal- dealing dealing dealing ing with feathered red strikers as they usually are with the human ariet variety Copyright 1929 by Dr L D LeGear V S |
