238 One Thousand Questions tn Agriculture 



caponizing, feed the bird what soft feed he will eat up and let him 



have plenty of water. Then leave him to himself as he will be his 



own doctor. In two or three days look them over and if there are 



any wind-balls, simply prick with a needle to let the air out; this 



may have to be done two or three times before the wound heals up, 



but after it has healed, treat just as you would other chickens and 



feed them about twice a day. There is nothing made by trying to 



rush nature; it takes fifteen months to grow a good capon of the 



large breeds. _ rr. ^ ^ 



Roup Treatment. 



Up to a week ago the chickens had been exceptionally zvell in every 

 zvay. Noiv they seem to have a cold and a running at the nose and with 

 it a bad odor. It zvas suggested that this might be the beginning of roup, 

 but I see no swell-head. 



The distinguishing characteristic of roup is not so-called "swell 

 head" or other form of cold, but the offensive roupy odor. When 

 the cold has reached this stage it is a pronounced case of roup, and 

 highly contagious. Separate all the ailing fowls and segregate them 

 in comfortable hospital quarters, warm but with one side partly open 

 for fresh air. Disinfect the quarters of the well fowls by spraying 

 with distillate or cheap-grade coal oil and sprinkling the floors and 

 about the houses with air-slaked lime. Use some simple remedy like 

 coal oil or permanganate of potash to cleanse the throat and nostrils. 

 With coal oil, first wipe the eyes and bill with a clean cloth dipped in 

 the coal oil, then inject with a sewing-machine oil can enough coal 

 oil to open open and thoroughly clean out the nostrils. If the throat 

 is afifected, give a tablespoonful of sweet oil and coal oil, half and 

 half, two or three times a day until relieved. One of our corres- 

 pondents has sent us the following treatment with permanganate of 

 potash which he has found the best roup remedy he has ever tried: 

 Dissolve 1 ounce of permanganate of potash in 3 pints of water, 

 hold the fowl's head in this for a second, then open the beak and 

 rinse out the mouth in the solution. Wipe with a clean, soft cloth 

 and apply a very little witch hazel or carbolated salve to the eyes, 

 nostrils and head. Repeat the operation as often as the throat and 

 head become clogged with mucus. Until the disease is eliminated 

 from the premises, keep permanganate of potash in the drinking water 

 of all the fowls, both sick and well. About 1 ounce to each 2 gallons 

 of water or enough to give the water a claret color. The sick fowls 

 should be allowed no other feed but a little stimulating mash three 

 times a day. Where the fowls do not show a decided improvement 

 in the course of a few days, or where the disease has assumed a 

 violent form, all such birds should be killed and the bodies burned 

 at once. 



Bad Food for Chickens. 



My chicks are about three weeks old and have always been strong 

 and sturdy, but when taken sick first appear a little dumpish, then the 

 head seems a little heavy and the neck lengthens out. As the disease 

 advances they become staggery. 



