232 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 



The work of the past year has been unusually important and successful. Important, 

 because it embraced the experimental feeding, to the laying stock, of a less quantity of 

 cheaper rations than formerly. Successful, for the reason that a greater number of 

 eggs was obtained, during the winter period of high prices, at a lessened cost of production. 

 It will be interesting then to the farmers and poultry breeders of the country to learn 

 how such results were brought about. 



WHAT CLOSE OBSERVATION LED TO. 



The experience of former years led first to the suspicion and finally to the convic- 

 tion that the great drawback to successful winter laying was the hens becoming over- 

 fat — particulary those of the Asiatic and American breeds — from overfeeding and 

 consequent disinclination to exertion. This was more noticeable when the soft mash 

 morning ration was fed, as was thought, in too great quantity. It was also noticed that 

 the overfat condition was more general and disastrous about the end of February, or 

 beginning of March. The indications of an overfat condition were : — 



1. The laying of eggs with thin or soft shells. 



2. Eggs laid of abnormal size and unusual shape. 



3. The sickness of several of the laying fowls from an ailment at first thought to 

 be acute indigestion, but later supposed to be enteritis or inflammation of the intestines, 

 and which in the majority of cases resulted in death. 



4. The sudden death of several two and three year old hens, of the large breeds, 

 from apoplexy. 



SIMILAR CASES ELSEWHERE. 



Investigation received incentive by the reception of several letters, from persons in 

 different parts of the country, describing an ailment which afi"ected their fowls, and 

 similar to that noted in the farm fowls. The following letter may be taken as a specimen 

 of those received, and describes the symptoms : — 



" Dear Sir, — My hens are suffering from some disease. They have been laying 

 well up to this time (end of February and early March). They seem to lose the use 

 of their legs and lie on their sides. They seem feverish and distressed. Some get over 

 it, others die. We give them mash in the morning and grain at other times. They 

 have water to drink and old mortar for lime." 



In the ca*e of the farm fowls, castor oil in small doses was given with a ration of 

 soft food, and the correspondents were advised to try the same. 



The ailment was a new experience and experts consulted thought it a form of acute 

 indigestion. 



SOME LIGHT ON THE MATTER. 



What was the ailment 1 It seemed an outcome of the overfeeding, over stimulating 

 (and consequent overfat condition) of the laying fowls, in the attempt to procure 

 eggs in winter. Some light was thrown on the subject by the publication, by Dr. W. 

 Sanborn, of a book on poultry diseases, in which he describes " Enteritis," the symptoms 

 of which so closely resembled those of the sick fowls of correspondents and farm, as to 

 make conjecture almost a certainty. Dr. Sanborn thus writes : — " Enteritis, an 

 inflammation of one or more of the intestines, has received much attention and 

 investigation of late." 



Cause of Disease. — Feeding too stimulating or irritating foods ; long continued 

 feeding of one ration ; eating of poisonous vegetable or mineral matter ; worms or 

 anything that tends to inflame or irritate the bowels. 



