20 NATURE AND ITS 



The Cause of Roup. 



This is the greatest drawback among poultry breeders. 

 Cold, catarrh, swollen eyes, etc. All writers on Poultry claim 

 dampness, draught, etc., causes it. This is a mistake. If 

 you want roup among your fowls, fall and winter, feed them 

 all the meat they will eat every day for two weeks, fresh 

 meat from the butchers, and also feed them on rich foods of 

 all kinds, and you will have roup in ten days. In the sum- 

 mer it-affects them differently. They will then get liver dis- 

 eases and indigestion. In winter, if fed on rich foods, they 

 get a high fever, 106 or more distemper sets in, their heads 

 get very hot. This is very -dangerous, and if the fowl should 

 get over the high fever, they generally get poor and grow 

 light, all feathers and bone, and the lice will soon make 

 quick work of the remaining meat and blood. If roup ever 

 gets into a flock, it means a lot of dead ones, especially if 

 the roupy bird smells very badly. I have seen thousands 

 die of roup. This means a great loss, and. is one great reason 

 why those failed who went into the poultry business. 



How to Prevent Roup, Colds, Diphtheria, Catarrh, Swollen 

 Eyes, Etc. 



If common sense and judgment is used in feeding and 

 housing you will never be bothered with roup or colds of 

 any kind. Wild birds never have colds and our birds are 

 nothing but wild birds domesticated. The first hen was a 

 jungle fowl and has been bred up until now there are over 

 150 different breeds of pure stock. Above all don't breed 

 from any sick stock. Never keep a hen around that is sick, 

 and never in-breed. They have been in-bred dozens of times 

 before you got them, so don't you do it again. Now in feed- 

 ing Poultry, feed only "what grows in the field, in the way 

 of grain, seeds, etc. 



Above all build common sense houses. Housing is of 

 the greatest importance. A wild bird lives out doors every 



