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It flops about and tries to reach food, but when left alone, 

 being unable to get water and sufficient feed, gradually weak- 

 ens until death overtakes it. By placing affected birds in a 

 dry coop and giving good food, especially plenty of green stuff, 

 occasionally they will recover. If the birds do not recover in a 

 short time they should be killed. Very little is known about 

 the cause of this trouble. 



Scaly Legs. 



This is caused by a mite burrowing under the scales of the 

 shank. The roughened surface, a whitish powdery crustation 

 covering the shanks, is a by-product of these mites. It spreads 

 through a flock, injuring its appearance, and if not given atten- 

 tion will eat into the shanks, making the bird lame or even 

 causing blood poisoning. The shanks may become twice their 

 normal size. If this trouble makes its appearance fill a 2 or 

 3 quart pail nearly full of water and pour over the top a little 

 kerosene. Dip the shanks of the birds in this, immersing them 

 for a moment, then withdrawing slowly. By so doing the scales 

 will become somewhat softened and a portion of the kerosene 

 will adhere to the shanks. Do not dip them in pure kerosene, 

 as such treatment is too severe and may result in the loss of 

 the birds. Another method of treatment is to soak the shanks 

 in strong soapsuds, after which smear on a paste made of sul- 

 phur and lard. Continue treatment about twice a week until 

 the scales disappear. By painting the roosts with disinfectant 

 these mites will soon be destroyed. 



Lice. 

 Lice live on the hens and do not leave their bodies during 

 life. They breathe through little pores in their sides so are very 

 easily destroyed by the use of dust, which smothers them by 

 stopping up these openings. The best way to keep down lice 

 is to have a good place for the hens to roll and dust. They fill 

 their feathers and cover their body with dust, and on shaking 

 themselves vigorously the lice are thrown from the body with 

 the dust and dirt. Healthy hens delight in dusting themselves, 

 and if the floor is covered with a few inches of sand or loam, 

 do so freely. Many people keep hens on a bare board or cement 



