PARASITES AND DISEASES OF POULTRY 



fatness, this disorder may be remedied by putting 

 the hen on a light diet, composed mainly of green 

 stuff. If the disorder is due to some derangement 

 of the oviduct, it is generally incurable. 



Liver Diseases usually commence on account of 

 overfeeding or insufficient exercise. Congestion 

 of the liver is the first stage, and this may usually 

 be cured by using some good liver pill. Inflamma- 

 tion of the liver is the next and final stage, as it 

 seldom yields to treatment. The symptoms are 

 loss of appetite, yellow diarrhoea, extreme thirsti- 

 ness, slow and labored breathing, and general 

 listlessness. 



Leg Weakness is a common ailment among 

 the young chicks of novices. It comes from over- 

 feeding, too much forcing, insufficient exercise, too 

 close confinement, or lack of bone-forming material 

 in the food. The bird's gait is unsteady, the hocks 

 appear weak and wobbly, and the bird desires to 

 sit a great part of the time. Feed less heating or 

 forcing food, discontinue wet mashes and instead 

 feed dry grains scattered in litter, making the 

 chicks scratch for all they get. 



Soft-shelled Eggs are nearly always caused by 

 overfatness among the hens, or by a ration deficient 

 in lime and shell-forming materials. Correct con- 

 ditions, supplying crushed oyster shells and feed- 

 ing freely of bran and clover, both of which are 

 rich in lime. Occasionally a hen will lay a soft- 



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