POULTRY. Treatment of Clucking Hens.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1264, 5 August 1880, Page 2

POULTRY. Treatment of Clucking Hens.

A whiter in the Ath-hii/fe Obniu, makes the following- remarks upon this subject : — Thcio are ..-till some extraoidinaiy ideas entertained by some people with respect to the treatment of hens that will persist in pitting when they are not roquhct? to peiform that useful domestic duty. The old system of dipping a ducking hen into a bucket of cold water, which is still much in favor amongst old-fa.shion'ed housewhe*, is simply outra»or'iis. It is not. only positively cruel, but is the means of promoting disease in the unfortunate fowl opeiatod upon. A clucking hen is to a ceitain extent in a ite of fever. Her system is heated, and is altogether m ho pc( uh. ir a condition that a .sudden immeiSion in cold water is calculated to eomcy a slock to her system which she will take j>ome tune to get over. Some wiseacies ciam their clucking- hens with pcppci--just the miv thin^jr to increase the state o± ii/itation to which the fowl has been wiought by her maternal instincts. Ofcheis clap a campoven over the \ictimof philoprogouitivencss, theieby 1 mining the ii>k of .smothering her npd spoiling a good lien. A few, again, hang- the hen on a lino and her to and fro till she is as neai ly dead as their cruelty *,an bung her. In fact, the unfortunate fowl with proclivities in the direction of chickens is often subjected to the most barbaious treatment to make her forget what natuie lias prompted her to undertake. No hen should be prevented, from hitting at least once in a .season, as the sitting process is to .some extent a rest from the occupation of 1 lying eggs, which drains the sj r stem very much if kept up to an unnatural extent. Practically the best way to yet a lieu off sitting is to put her in a small coop with a sm irt young rooster for a day or two, and bho will soon quiet down, gradually give up clucking, and begin to lay as^ain. Two or three days of this discipline generally effects a cur-e. Cochins are about tho worst for developing t-itting proclivities. They are no sooner off than they are on again, and they will squat on a bare board if they cannot find a nest handy. However, there is ndt much difficulty to get them to lay again by following the plan proposed, or cooping them alone for a few days ou plain diet."

Horrors ok a Brkj vxdaoe.- — tticilam brigand^ recently canned off a .son from his father at Yallc delata Vita, piomised to refetoXe him on payment of 6000 fiancj>. r Phe father gave mioimation to the police, ami by their activity the biigands discovered, and a cave near Caltabellotti was named- a?- the jttUee -\\ heio tlie boy ■was to be found." Tlie father and tlio Soldier, on' entfernVi,' tlie tave, found the bones of the .boy lying' about, the Hcsli haviug been catya a\wcy, by dogt> aivd vitlturcs. 'T'hc boy bad boon muideved by the bvigauvls in sevens foi t!\c--up-poscd trDcVchwy of the iatiiur m g»m& information to the police. A MEMBfcji of ft M'hoDi Eoard vis"! ed a a school under his juiisdicfc^on. Whou asked to ma>e sqnie remarks, ho &aid ; " "Well, children, you spells well and you reads well, but you h.aia't sot still,"