326 Farm Poultry 



that are closely confined are more likely to learn 

 feather -eating or feather -pulling than those that 

 are given wide range and plenty of wholesome 

 food. Close confinement with improper ration 

 will often lead to this vice. When once the habit 

 is well formed it may become most troublesome. 

 Fowls pluck the feathers from each other. Those 

 on the back at the root of the tail or high up 

 on the breast are likely to be plucked first. If 

 but few fowls have learned the habit, it is some- 

 times recommended to file the beak so that the 

 front and sides will not close tightly. This will 

 prevent the bird from pulling feathers but will 

 permit it to eat ordinary food readily. When sev- 

 eral fowls of a flock have but slightly contracted 

 the habit, a wide range with change of diet, in- 

 cluding plenty of animal food, will usually suffice 

 t3 correct the evil. Above all, permit the fowls 

 tD take plenty of exercise. 



DIAKKHCEA 



Diarrhoea is caused by some irritation of the 

 digestive system. Depression and loss of appe- 

 tite frequently precede it. If the diarrhcea is 

 at all serious the excrement may be mixed with 

 mucus or blood. Fowls suffering from this 

 disease should be placed in comfortable quarters 

 and given clean, wholesome food that is easily 



