386 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



full crop. Simple treatment, however, will save the life of 

 the fowl. 



It is sometimes sufficient to give about a tablespoonful of 

 olive oil to soften the mass, then with the fingers manipulate 

 the mass until it becomes soft and moist. It may require 

 an hour to do it. If the mass does not break up try holding 

 the bird by the legs, head down, and gently work the food 

 out of the mouth. If this is unsuccessful, resort must be 

 had to an operation. After removing the feathers, an in- 

 cision li/2 inches long should be made in the outer skin of 

 the crop, then a small opening into the crop. With a small 

 spoon or pair of tweazers, or the fingers, the contents may 

 be removed, after which the lining of the crop and the 

 outer skin should be carefully sewed together, separately. 

 The wound should then be rubbed with vaseline. Feed the 

 fowl lightly for a few days with easily digested food. 



Chick Mortality. Poultry raisers sustain great losses in 

 the rearing of chicks. The losses have been so great in 

 many cases as to drive the poultry raiser out of business. 

 A large part of the loss is ascribed to what is called white 

 diarrhoea. It should be clearly understood that there are 

 different forms of diarrhoea in chicks. Diarrhoea may be 

 caused in many ways. Possibly in a great majority of cases 

 where the losses are heavy the diarrhoea in brooder chicks 

 is due to chilling. Improper feeding will also cause 

 diarrhoea. In such cases the loss is not due to an infectious 

 disease over which the poultryman has no control. Again, 

 large losses of chicks occur in the brooder from apparently 

 no other cause than a lack of vitality. 



Wrong methods of incubation, which are discussed in 

 the chapter on hatching chickens, are often the direct cause. 

 Lack of vigor in the breeding stock is often the cause of low 

 vitality in the chicks. A hen failing to sit properly and 

 contentedly on the nest will hatch chicks that show lack 



