52 Hen Health. 



Feather-pulling is due to idleness, and not to a lack of some 

 thing in the food, as many suppose. Active birds, if confined 

 and not exercising, will pull feathers, but the habit is easily ac- 

 quired from any one of the flock by the other members thereof. 



Hens do not eat their eggs unless they learn the habit from 

 having eggs broken in their nests. Never use stale eggs as 

 nest-eggs. 



A dust-bath is the toilet of the hen. It is her mode of keep- 

 ing her body clean. If given a dusting place she will keep 

 the vermin off if you keep the poultry-house clean. 



The great source of contagion is the drinking-water. A sick 

 fowl should never be allowed to drink from the same vessel 

 with the others. 



On very cold nights a large flock will be more comfortable 

 than a small one, as there will be more warmth in the poultry- 

 house. 



A crack in the wall, or a hole as large as the head of a nail 

 will cause more damage than if the whole front of the house is 

 open, provided the rear and sides are tight. 



Never give medicine to healthy fowls. Feeding sulphur and 

 adding Douglass Mixture to the drinking-water, should only be 

 done when necessity requires. 



Pale or dark comb is not a disease, but indicates that the 

 bird is not well. A healthy fowl always has a bright scarlet 

 comb. 



Salt is necessary. Season the food with salt whenever it 

 can be done, but only slightly. 



Crop-bound usually results from the bird eating long grass, 

 long rags or rope, or some substance that stops the passage 

 leading from the crop to the gizzard. 



The best place for a sick bird is the bottom of a flour-barrel, 

 straw being used for bedding. 



No gases arise from frozen droppings, but the poultry-house 

 should be cleaned daily, if possible, and dry earth should be 

 sprinkled on the floor, which permits of sweeping the latter 

 with a broom. Cleanliness prevents disease. 



