SUMMARY OF DISEASES OF POULTRY. 1217 



the neck muscles, so that the head rests on the ground. This condition 

 occurs in warm weather, and is caused by the fowls eating decomposed 

 flesh in which a ptomaine has developed. This poison causes partial paraly- 

 sis of the neck muscles and often results in the death of the birds. Mag- 

 gots eaten by fowls do not cause the disease, except iis they may contain 

 the poison which they have obtained from the decaying flesh. 



The best and most effective treatment is, of course, never to leave any 

 dead fowls or other dead animals around, but to bury or burn all carcasses. 

 Treatment of sick birds is not usually very successful, but a teaspoon ful 

 of cjustor oil is sometimes effective. 



IV. Bad Habits. 



Egg eating. — This habit sometimes becomes a serious vice, fowls be- 

 coming very fond of eggs when they have learned to eat them, and it 

 often spreads from fowl to fowl. It usually begins through accident by 

 eggs being broken or frozen. Be careful to see that this does not happen. 

 See that the nests are properly supplied with straw or other nesting mate- 

 rial and have them darkened, so that if an egg is accidentally broken the 

 fowls will not be likely to discover it. Supply plenty of lime in the form 

 of oyster shells, bone, or similar substances to insure a firm shell. As 

 soon as it is discovered that a fowl htis formed the habit, the fowl should 

 be removed, in order to prevent the spread of the vice. Once formed, it is 

 difficult to eradicate, and the safest remedy is the death penalty. 



Feather eating. — Fowls sometimes pluck feathers from themselves and 

 from each other, which is often caused by too close confinement, by the 

 presence of insect pests, or by improper feeding. When some of the fowls 

 of a flock have formed the habit slightly, a wide range with a change of 

 diet, including a plentiful supply of animal feed, and freedom from insect 

 pests, will usually correct the evil. Above all, see that the fowls have 

 plenty of inducement to exercise. If the habit becomes well formed it is 

 very troublesome and may necessitate the killing of some of the fowls in 

 order to stop it. 



V. Insect Pests. 



Two classes of external parasites, popularly known as lice and mites, 

 will be considered here. There are several varieties of lice which attack 

 poultry. They subsist mainly on the feathei-s and perhaps on the epider- 

 mic scales. They are found largely on the head and neck, under the 

 wings and about the vent, and when present in large number they cause 

 the fowls much discomfort. Persian insect powder (pyrethrum), pow- 

 dered sulphur, and some of the various preparations on the market, such 

 as tKe louse powders, are good in combating these pests. The hens can be 

 dusted with one of these powdei-s after they have gone to roost. Have the 



