Sept. 2, 1908. 1 Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 727 



perches, immediately commence scratching, which can be kept up through- 

 out the day. An adoption of this method of feeding has been successful in 

 many instances. 



Flowers of sulplmr has been much used for feather-eating fowls, the usual 

 quantity being a tablespoonful for twenty fowls, the way of administering 

 being to mix it in the soft food. 



Preventive measures for this and a number of other poultry-yard troubles 

 will always be found best. A spare diet, but containing a sufficiency of 

 nourishment, including animal matter, and if possible, a free range. In places 

 where litter is not obtainable the grain can be raked into the earth, thus giving 

 the fowls occupation and exercise, lack of which is frequently responsible for 

 the feather-eating habit. 



Gapes. — This is a chicken disease, and more pronounced in England than 

 elsewhere. It is most prevalent in spring, and attacks chickens, turkeys, and 

 pheasants from a few days to two or three months old, and is said to be 

 responsible for over -50 per cent, of the chicken deaths in that country. 



In some of the moister American States it is severe, in others mild, while 

 in Australia it is scarcely known. Some breeders here who lose chickens, 

 occasionally attribute the deaths to gapes. At the same time I have never 

 seen an actual case of the malady here, as known in the United Kingdom. 

 Old Country breeders resident here have been consulted on this subject, and 

 all affirm that Australia is free from the disease. The chickens affected are 

 observed to open their mouths and gape, which is accompanied with a sort 

 of choking cough. This becomes worse, when, if nothing is done to reUeve 

 them, they choke and die. 



The cause is a minute round red worm, which has a smooth body and 

 pointed tail, and about one-third of an inch in length. They are located in 

 the windpipe, and become so numerous as to block it up and cause suffoca- 

 tion. Many English poultrymen have so-called certain cures, and possibly 

 some of them are certain. One is to catch the chicken and put a pinch of 

 salt down its throat, and repeat the dose the following day. Another is to 

 moisten a camel's hair brush in terebene, and pass it down the bird's throat. 

 Oil of Scotch fir, turpentine, &c., to be apphed in the same manner as above. 

 The passing of a feather down the windpipe and twisting it round will remove 

 the worms. The inhalation of sulphur fumes, and the fumes of carboUc are 

 also said to be reliable remedies. 



Indigestion. — Indigestion is something that interferes with the digestive or 

 assimilating organs. It may arise from overfeeding, sometimes from a weak 

 digestive system, want of grit, or too much soft food. Often a fowl will be 

 observed to extend its neck during the day, which is its effort to remove the 

 load of a large feed, or the too slow digestion of an ordinary meal. Sometimes 

 it is accompanied with impaction of the crop, which should be removed in 

 the manner suggested for such ailment. After that, the remedial measures 

 are correct feeding, and the addition of a teaspoonful of sulphate of magnesia 

 to every quart of drinking water, 

 c 



