scrap, or similar animal food, should be kept before the fowls, especially 

 after the feathers have been dropped and new ones begin to come in. This 

 is of the greatest importance. Keep the fowls free from lice and provide 

 them with clean, dry, and sanitary quarters. Remember that the fowls' 

 vitality is low at this period, and they are therefore peculiarly susceptible 

 to disease. CONKEY'S POULTRY TONIC will keep up the strength and 

 protect your flock. 



Injurious Habits and Vices 



EGG EATING 



While this is more of a habit than a disease, it is often caused by a 

 physical longing for oyster shell, or other lime-containing, shell-making 

 material, and the absence of sufficient animal food in the diet. It is a most 

 annoying and expensive habit and a difficult one ir> break. No sooner is 

 there an egg laid than it is eagerly eaten, and r*^ fowl quickly teaches 

 the others until a number in the flock may be seen tc rush for an egg as 

 soon as it is deposited in the nest. 



TREATMENT One of the best methods is to make a F.nall incision 

 in either end of an egg and allow the contents to run out. Then make a 

 mixture of soft soap and red pepper and refill the egg, closing the ends 

 with court plaster and placing a number in the nests where the fowls can 

 get at them. If these are eaten, fill others. It should not take long to 

 sicken the fowls of the habit. If you will see that fowls are kept busy, that 

 shell-making material is provided, such as oyster shell, mortar, bone etc., 

 and that the nests are dark and well supplied with straw, you will have but 

 little trouble from this cause. Remember to darken nests as much as 

 practicable, have china nest eggs, and always collect freshly-laid eggs as 

 quickly as possible. BEAR IN MIND THAT THERE IS A DIFFER- 

 ENCE BETWEEN SHELL-MAKING MATERIAL AND GRIT. THE 

 FOWLS NEED BOTH AND NO ONE SUBSTANCE WILL ANSWER 

 FOR BOTH PURPOSES. 



FEATHER EATING 



This is a bad habit and is usually caused by a desire for meat or insect 

 food, giving too much carbonaceous food, and a lack of exercise. Rarely 

 does this habit develop among fowls that have free range, or that are fed 

 balanced rations. 



TREATMENT Give the fowls more range if possible. Spade up 

 the yard, bury the grain food in the loose earth and make the fowls work 

 for it. When grain is fed in the evening, scatter the same in the litter. In 

 winter feed grain in deep litter. Provide plenty of animal food. Never 

 feed enough to make fowls lazy. Keep them busy thinking of something 

 else. 



PREVENTION OF DISEASE 



"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is a saying 

 that has proved its truth by years of demonstration. Most of the diseases 

 of poultry can be traced to carelessness or to unsanitary and dirty quarters. 

 While the housing, feeding, etc., must be given due attention, cleanliness is 

 of paramount importance. 



Disease germs are found wherever filth and dirt abound. Even though 

 the droppings of the fowls are frequently removed, it is not all that should 



63 



