The Health of the Hen. 99 



flesh is too fat or flabby, or possibly too bony. The condition of the 

 fowl must be noted by the sense of feeling as well as by the eye. The 

 only means of restoring too fat fowls to a normal condition is to deprive 

 them of a portion of the food they would otherwise need and make them 

 hunt and pick for what they get. Starve them into health. 



"COLDS" OR INFLUENZA are caused by abrupt changes of tem- 

 perature. They may occur in Winter or Summer, but are always the 

 result of a draft. In an endeavor to secure more air to carry off odors 

 houses have been arranged so that drafts blew directly upon the fowls. 

 A cold is indicated by sneezing and a slight discharge at the nostrils 

 which collect dirt and straws. If severe cases the affected fowls droop. In 

 an outbreak of this character there may be inflammation of the lungs. 

 The only remedy for colds is to arrange the house so that there can be 

 no cross drafts from doors, windows or cracks. The use of muslin cur- 

 tains instead of some of the glass windows is a preventive. These act 

 by permitting the moisture transpired by the hens to pass though, by retain- 

 ing heat, stopping direct drafts and allowing slow diffusion of the inside 

 and outside air. Frozen combs, wattles and feet are prevented by keeping 

 the sleeping chamber as dry as possible and comfortably warm. This is 

 effected by muslin curtains which divide the roosting place from the rest 

 of the room, and limit the space to be heated by the fowls. 



SANITARY HOUSES.— Moisture in the henhouse should be avoided, 

 as it is most destructive to the comfort and health of the fowl. The only 

 economical method of doing this is by permitting the inside air to exchange 

 its moisture contents freely with the outside. The muslin screen seems at 

 present to be the cheapest and best. Many poultrymen make use of the 

 loft of the larger houses for ventilation by covering a loose flooring with 

 a foot of hay and opening doors in the gables. All inside structures should 

 be made so that fowls cannot injure themselves. The lighter breeds 

 usually suffer little harm from bruises, but the heavier may receive them 

 on their feet or their wings on account of the construction of the house. 

 As a rule the dropping board and perch should be well upon the side of 

 the house, so that the hens will have all the floor space and the roosts 

 will be in the warmer part' of the building. For the heavier breeds run- 

 ways should be made leading up to the roosts and the roost wired in with 

 removable netting, so that the birds cannot fly down. Their wings are 

 as compared to their body weight so weak that in the short distance from 

 roost to floor they receive little help from them and fall instead of fly. 

 This applies to the heavier American breeds as well as the Asiatic. The 

 wings often get bruised by trying to fly through too small openings when 

 scared or by careless handling. Fowls contract but few diseases from the 

 yards aside from the parasitic. They are more liable to the effects ot 

 improper feeding and the lack of exercise when confined, but when once 



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