POULTRY DEPARTMENT. 435 



mal food has made itself felt, and the opportunity and temptation being 

 within their reach, they have pulled at one another's feathers, which 

 they eat with evident satisfaction. The only immediate remedy is to 

 set them at- liberty, but as this cannot be done in every case, one has to 

 be satisfied with the means at his disposal. Let them have, several 

 times a day, green-meat. Mix with the soft food, some meat cut up 

 into small pieces. Avoid tainted meat. Renew the sand in the runs, 

 and especially put dry sand under the sheds where the fowls generally 

 dust themselves. Care must be taken with a hen, although not picked 

 herself, but always pursuing the others, to isolate her. One single bird 

 is sufficient to set a bad example. In small runs it is the cock which is 

 generally picked first. Is it from excess of affection, or is it spite and 

 revenge? It is difficult to say. At all events, he seldom resents it, and 

 and allows himself to be plucked without resistance. In this case the 

 best way to protect him, is to rub him over with a sponge dipped in 

 paraf&ne. In repeating this operation two or three times, at an in- 

 terval of some days, the hens will entirely cease to strip their lord 

 and master. ' ' 



Cholera. This disease is epidemic in its attacks, and is seldom seen 

 in any other country. It attacks isolated flocks and yards having poor 

 drainage or care, and often nearly depletes them. It is undoubtedly 

 malarial in character; and is very rapid in its action and termination. 

 The poison of the malaria affects the liver, poisons the blood, and causes 

 violent diarrhea. The fowl having this disease appears droopy, weak, 

 in high fever, has rough and draggled plumage, and is very thirsty. Its 

 droppings are of a greenish color. The following pill is highly recom- 

 mended : 



60 grains Blue Mass. 2.5 grains Camphor. 



80 grains Cayenne Pepper. 48 grains Rhubarb, 



6 drops Laudanum. 



Mix and make into twenty pills, giving one every four hours till they 

 act freely, and when they have acted follow with a tea-spoonful ca.stor 

 oil and ten drops laudanum to each fowl. 



Diarr tea. This complaint must not be confounded with ' 'cholera, ' ' 

 and it can be readily distinguished by a difference in the color of the 

 droppings and the attendant symptoms, which are very marked in a 

 case of cholera. A simple diarrhea can usually be checked by the use 

 of bonemeal as a food. Boiled rice mixed with pounded chalk will often 

 Stop it, and if possible to check it by either of these remedies, it is best 



