BREAKING SITTING HENS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 27 October 1879, Page 2

BREAKING SITTING HENS.

When my hens take a notion (says a correspondent of the Prairie Farmer) to rear a family contrary to my wishes I shut them up, either by themselves 'or with a rooster for company, feed them sparingly, and leave them to meditate on the error of their ways. In three or four days sometimes an obstinate case require a week-they are thoroughly cured of the desire to sit. I then turn them out with the rest of the flock, and they usually commence laying again in about two or three weeks, The coop that I confine sitting hens in is made of blustering lath, has no bottom, is furnished with a perch, and set in the ground, The' coop hi important, for if they have any chance to make a nest, they will continue to sit. You will find &' such a coop very handy in the hen family. J Don't try any of barbarous methods,of-*&, breaking up sitting hens; try roy' plan and sec if you don't like it. " How do I know my young hens from the old ones V Well, I do know them at sight, but I t spend a good deal of time amongst my fowls, and notice little things that would escape the eye of an ordinary observer. Among other things, you will notice that the legs of the pullets havo a cleaner, brighter apearance than those of the old hens. The toe nails of pullets are sharp like a cat's claws, while those of old fowls are generally blunt; and if you find a hen with spurs, you may safely conclude that her day of usefulness is past. In the fall t the plumage of the pullets is smoother * and more glossy than that of the old birds. But if, after noticing these points, you are still in doubt, press your finger on the point of the breastbone, and if is hard and unyielding, the fowl is an old one. This a good test for inexperienced buyers of poulty to use,