74 



DIARRHOEA OR ENTERITIS. 



Feathering out is a very trying period in the life of a chick, 

 corresponding to teething in the life of a child. There is a 

 double tax upon the chick's system : the ordinary demands of 

 growth must be met, and the little body must be covered with 

 feathers. It is a time when even the most careful poultrymari 

 must expect some fatalities, and the careless or lazy poultry- 

 man must not be surprised to see his flock melt away like snow 

 before the sun in springtime. When the poultryman goes to 

 feed his chicks he notices one or two, perhaps more, standing 

 around in a listless, dejected way, wings drooping or outspread, 

 with possibly a white threadlike substance which has just ex- 

 uded from the bowels, clinging to the fluff around the vent. 

 The chick may throw up its head and gape. In a few hours it 

 will be dead. Its digestive system is deranged, and it is suffer- 

 ing from what is known as Diarrhoea or Enteritis. 



It is better, far better, to avoid this disease than to attempt 

 to cure it. The poultryman should realize what a critical 

 period feathering out is, and strive to meet it. Especially 

 should he be careful about what he feeds his chicks, making 

 no sudden changes in their bill of fare. Nor should he let them 

 become chilled or get drenched in a shower. If, in spite of all 

 precautions, chicken cholera makes its appearance, the house 

 and brooders should be thoroughly cleaned, all drinking ves- 

 sels scalded, and air-slacked lime sprinkled lightly about. 

 Some good remedies are as follows : "Boiled rice upon which 

 has been sprinkled a little cinnamon, lime-water to drink, 

 boiled milk and dry bran." In mild cases add one or two 

 drams of sulphate of iron to a pint of drinking water. In very 

 serious cases where the diarrhoea is accompanied by pain, 

 fever or bloody discharges, give y$ grain powdered opium and 

 two grains subnitrate of bismuth every four hours. 

 COLDS AND BRONCHITIS. 



Fowls are very susceptible to colds. The reason is, I sup- 

 pose, that they are subjected to great changes of temperature. 

 Poultry houses are so built that the sun shines full upon them, 

 and at midday even in winter the interior is often very warm. 

 It is generally when the temperature is highest that the fowls 

 are working the hardest. The conditions are analogous to 

 what they would be were a man obliged to wear a heavy fur 

 coat all the time night and day and exercise in a room where 



