576 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



After varnishing or painting with albumen, I laid the eggs upon a rough blotting-paper, as I 

 found that, when allowed to rest till dry upon a plate or on the table, the albumen stuck so 

 fast to the table or plate as to take away a chip out of the shell. This is entirely obviated by 

 the use of the blotting-paper. I pack the eggs in boxes of dry bran.&quot; 



Breaking lip Broody Hens. Some breeds of sitting fowls are much more inclined 

 to be broody than others, the Asiatics, for instance, being quite troublesome in this respect, 

 while there is also quite a difference in individuals in the sitting propensity. Many of the 

 devices resorted to for breaking up this tendency are either futile or cruel. It must be 

 remembered that this inclination is a natural one, and will be likely to be persistently followed 

 until the fever is over, or some sensible means adopted to break it up. The cruel practice of 

 ducking hens in cold water, tying them by the leg to a stake in the open air or sun, shutting 

 them in a darkened and almost air-tight barrel, or throwing them off their nests a dozen 

 times a day is all to no purpose. The better way is to let the hen sit a few days, and then 

 remove her from the nest to a coop or some other quarters where she cannot have access to 

 her former laying place, and she will give it up entirely in about three days after confinement. 

 This will give her a little rest, which she needs, and she will soon go to laying again. It is 

 well to have a large coop or department of the hen-house especially devoted to this purpose, 

 where broody hens can be shut up apart from others until the fever is passed. If it is 

 desired not to allow the hen to sit at all, she should be looked after at night; when found at 

 this time upon the nest, remove her from it entirely before the sitting propensity has fairly 

 become established. If put in a small coop by herself, being supplied with food and water, 

 she will forget all about it in three or four days. When two or three birds are broody at 

 the same time, it is a good plan to put them in a coop or pen together, and introduce a young 

 cock to keep them company. Three or four days will usually prove sufficient time to break 

 up the inclination, when they will give no farther trouble for a time. 



Preparing for the Shows. As all admirers of fine fowls are more or less interested 

 in poultry shows, we give some excellent hints from Mr. I. K. Felch, with respect to prepar 

 ing the birds to make a creditable appearance on such occasions: &quot;The chicks that stand 

 head and shoulders above the brood in which they were hatched, are to be given private 

 quarters and* extra care; their meals should be cooked, and the growth of their different 

 parts watched, and nature aided in all ways possible. Care and watchfulness are the levers 

 that move the poultry interest, and are the cause from which the results prize chickens are 

 obtained. Ninety points in an adult cock require a cockerel to score ninety-three, hence we 

 see in chicks, &quot; the child is the father of the man.&quot; 



&quot;Why do we have no more nice cocks ? The reason, in most cases, is that three-fourths 

 of all the cocks moult in confinement. If we would have fine plumage, we should give them 

 a fair chance to grow it while moulting. Rich, nurturing food, a chance to exercise, milk, and 

 green vegetable food, are the requisites for the making of a prize winner. To reach above 

 ninety points is to be quite sure of first prize, and three-fourths of the first-prize cocks score 

 from eighty-seven to eighty-nine. If the breeder will think of these things while the birds 

 are moulting, an extra point may be obtained, and success made certain. As the twig is 

 bent the tree is inclined. If a flight feather in the chicken is left to fold outside, the adult 

 set will be inclined to come in the same ungainly way. Pull the loose feather and allow the 

 wing to fold, and the new set will grow out in proper shape. If the old feathers do not 

 come out evenly, remove the tardy feathers so that the bird may secure its plumage in a 

 smooth and even color. If a buff, you must know that a feather coming in long after the 

 moulting, has a darker, fresher look, which makes the plumage uneven in shade. If the old 

 ones are left, they are faded, and give the plumage a mealy look. So, if neglected, one is 

 sure to have two shades of color, which, being cut a point, destroys the chance of success. 

 See that the old feathers fall in time. 



