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Epoch Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Pins and Needles: ‘The Pack of Ragamuffins'
The Brothers Grimm published ' The Cock and the Hen One day, the cock tells the hen that they should go eat the ripe nuts on the hill. If they don't go now, the squirrels will soon eat them all. The hen agrees and the two set off. At the hill, they both eat their fill from morning to evening. Yet, when it's time to leave, they both refuse to walk home, so the cock builds a carriage out of nutshells. Delighted, the hen hops into the carriage and tells the rooster to pull her. But the rooster refuses: 'I would rather go home on foot than let myself be harnessed to it.' While they argue over the carriage, a duck comes along and reprimands the greedy chickens for taking nuts from her nut-hill. She rushes at the cock with her beak open and ready to snap. However, the cock retaliates and injures her with his spurs, so that the duck willingly agrees to pull the carriage. The cock harnesses the duck up and urges her forward: ' Duck, go as fast as you can.' A Rhode Island Red hen stands proudly with her eggs. Ton Bangkeaw/Shutterstock Pins and Needles After a while, the carriage comes upon a pin and needle walking in the road. They approach the carriage and ask the chickens to give them a ride, for they are exhausted, the road is dirty, and the sun sets fast. The cock agrees and they ride on. Related Stories 4/25/2025 4/23/2025 Night falls and, not wishing to drive in the dark, they stop at an inn. At first, the landlord refuses to take them in. But the two chickens address him with kind language and offer him the hen's egg laid on the way, as well as the duck (who also lays a daily egg), that he finally relents and allows them to stay the night. However, his kindness is ill rewarded. For, as the sun rises the next day, the cock and hen get up before everyone else. Rather than giving the innkeeper the hen's egg, they eat it themselves and leave the eggshell on the hearth. Moreover, they stick the sleeping needle in the landlord's chair cushion and place the pin in his towel. Having performed their mischievous acts, the cock and hen flee. The duck sees the chickens fleeing and likewise takes the opportunity to escape down a small stream. A couple hours later, the landlord wakes. He washes his face, but, when he dries it, the pin in the towel scratches him across the face. He then heads into the kitchen to light his pipe. As he bends down at the hearth, the eggshell flies up into his face. Filled with anger, he sits down in his chair. Ouch! The needle in the cushion pokes him and he quickly jumps back up. Furious, the landlord searches for the two chickens, but discovers that they had fled. After such an ordeal, he promises never to accept ragamuffins into his inn again. Through this story, the Brothers Grimm demonstrated that the cock and hen lose friends and good opportunities through their unkind and mischievous actions. Their greedy, ungrateful behavior creates a divide between themselves and the rest of the world. By showing the cock and hen's negative outcome, the Brothers Grimm emphasized that everyone should uphold acts of charity and goodwill. Such acts bring joy, peace, friendship, and unity. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Gulf News
24-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf News
Pakistan's new UniGold chicken lays over 200 eggs a year and ensures food security
Dubai: Imagine a chicken that lays more than 200 eggs a year, eats less, handles the heat, and thrives in your backyard. That is exactly what Pakistani scientists have just delivered with UniGold, a newly developed breed from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). UniGold lays up to 212 eggs annually, compared to just 70–80 from local hens. It's bred to suit the realities of rural Pakistan with low feed availability, hot weather, and limited infrastructure. Backyard poultry As Pakistan grapples with rising food costs and continued dependence on imported poultry breeds, the new chicken breed named UniGold that lays over 200 eggs a year—nearly three times more than traditional local hens - -provides a homegrown solution to shortage of poultry products in Pakistan. The breakthrough promises to strengthen rural incomes, empower women, and boost national food security. It is also great news for women in agriculture, who are often the caretakers of backyard poultry. Funded by the Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB), the UniGold project is a strategic effort to decrease Pakistan's reliance on imported poultry stock, such as Fayoumi and Rhode Island Red breeds, reported Geo TV. Developed at UAF's Institute of Animal Sciences, UniGold is specially bred for backyard poultry farming. It thrives in low- to medium-input systems common in central and southern Punjab, requires less feed, and can withstand high temperatures—a vital trait in a country increasingly affected by climate change. UniGold super hens UniGold hens reach laying maturity by 25–26 weeks and achieve peak productivity rates of up to 83.2% by 32 weeks of age. Each egg weighs an average of 52 grams—around 25% more than those from native hens. Rural poultry accounts for about 36% of Pakistan's total egg production, with women playing a central role in its management. The higher yield from UniGold could significantly improve household nutrition and incomes, especially among landless farmers and vulnerable rural communities.
