CRAMP IN CHICKENS. 81 



much heat also in many cases, and in others by a hard floor. 

 The hard floor causes a sort of true cramp, and the over- 

 feeding accumulates poison in the tissues, and there is no 

 exercise to work it off. They are more like cases of gout 

 than anything else. Gout and rheumatism, as all doctors 

 know, are close allies. Here also the salicylate will do some 

 good and is perhaps the best medicine, and the liniment 

 will do good too, working the claws about to flex them. 

 But the only real remedy, and the sure preventive, is 

 plenty of running about ; and the food must be scanty 

 enough to make them run, and come out to search for it. 

 This kind of cramp has often carried off chicks kept alto- 

 gether in a warm box ! It constantly attacks those packed 

 in a greenhouse. If such chicks are taken in time,/z// out 

 in the air, but with dry ashes or peat moss under-foot, in 

 the brooder, and kept just enough starved to make them 

 hungrily active, the cramp disappears it is gout from 

 over-feeding and laziness. Very young chickens, up to 

 five weeks old, should have the best of food and be sedu- 

 lously attended to, but always kept hungrily active. If 

 over-heating be avoided, such birds are not attacked by 

 cramp. 



The feeding will not differ from that already given, 

 except that while young, and until they can find for them- 

 selves upon ample range, it is generally necessary to mix a 

 portion of fine grit with the soft food ; never forget that 

 it is especially necessary in thus rearing chickens to keep 

 them rather hungry, and consequently active. On the 

 other hand, the young birds must never be neglected. Re- 

 member that chicks with a hen, if at liberty, can almost 

 always procure some food enough to maintain life at 

 least if their regular meal be forgotten ; whilst those reared 

 in this manner are entirely dependent upon their owner's 

 care, and one forgotten meal, even if not fatal at the time, 

 G 



