CHAPTER XXVII 



BREAKING UP A BROODY HEN 



BROODY HENS about the premises when not needed 

 are a source of loss and their brooding should be 

 broken up as soon as possible. Some claim that 

 hens show signs of broodiness when they need a 

 rest, but this is not always the case. If this were 

 true some hens would need a rest most of the spring 

 and summer. 



There are hens which lay only a few eggs and 

 then become broody. This certainly is not caused by 

 natural conditions. Some breeds are naturally more 

 broody than others, and then again we have hens 

 which get the setting fever from being too fat. 



There are various methods for breaking up a 

 broody hen, some of which are exceedingly cruel. 

 One of these cruel methods is to dip the hen in 

 cold water. A hen when she is in a broody con- 

 dition naturally has a high temperature, and to 

 treat her to a cold water cure at that time produces 

 a severe shock to the system which may terminate 

 disastrously. There are more humane methods 

 which serve the purpose just as well. Another 

 method which should be condemned is putting the 

 hen in a tight box for several days without food or 

 water. When the hen is released from this solitary 



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