999 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 77 



QUESTION What could cause apparently healthy birds to die 

 suddenly without any ascertainable cause? 



ANSWER It is usually apoplexy. It is the result of a rupture 

 of one of the blood vessels of the brain, and may be caused by over- 

 feeding, or too stimulating food, or injuries. It may also result from 

 violent exertion or straining in laying eggs. Hens are often found 

 dead in the nest or under the perches from this cause. There is no 

 remedy, as the bird dies before the trouble is discovered. 



QUESTION What disease is indicated by the following symp- 

 toms, rapid and extreme emaciation till the bird is almost a living 

 skeleton. The comb and wattles are so pale that they are almost 

 white. The appetite is generally voracious, and in the latter stages 

 the bird is quite dull and sleepy ? 



ANSWER The disease is termed "going light" and is really con- 

 sumption. There is no cure for it. It is sometimes contagious, and 

 as soon as a bird is discovered in this condition it should be killed 

 and buried. 



QUESTION What are the symptoms of "egg bound" and the 

 remedy for it? 



ANSWER The fowl makes repeated unsuccessful attempts to 

 pass the egg and becomes listless with joughened plumage. A hard 

 lump may be felt in the posterior portion of the body. Inject a 

 small quantity of sweet oil and endeavor to remove the egg by 

 pressure. Sometimes it can only be removed by pricking the shell 

 and allowing the contents to escape, after which remove the shell 

 with the fingers. In aggravated cases the egg may break through 

 the weakened tissue and escape into the abdominal cavity, in which 

 case the bird should be killed. 



QUESTION Can a hen be seriously sick and continue to lay? 

 ANSWER Yes, for a while. 



QUESTION What causes a bird to throw the head and neck 

 forward and upward. The action seems to be an unsuccessful effort 

 to swallow something. 



ANSWER If no other symptoms of disease are apparent, it is 

 very probable that something too large for the bird to swallow has 

 becomie lodged in the throat. This sometimes happens and the 

 remedy is to remove the obstruction by gentle pressure and rubbing, 

 forcing it either out of the mouth or into the crop, the latter if there 

 is reason to believe that the object is in the nature of food that can 

 be properly taken care of by the crop, and the former if the obstruc- 

 tion appears to be bones or other hard and indigestible matter of 

 extraordinary size. 



