240 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



Cropbound. — Fowls, from various reasons, are sometimes 

 unable to pass the food from the crop into the gizzard, and 

 the former becomes charged with food, hanging like a bag in 

 front of the bird. If not relieved, it will soon die of starva- 

 tion, for, no matter how much it may eat, none of the food 

 can pass into the stomach so long as the obstruction remains. 

 When discovered, some milk and warm water should be 

 poured down the throat of the bird, to soften the food in the 

 crop, which should then be well kneaded with the hands. 

 Often, if dealt with early, this will be found sufficient, but if 

 not, then an incision must be made through the skin to the 

 crop, and its contents removed with the aid of an egg-spoon. 

 Care must be taken to see that all is removed, for if the 

 original cause of the obstruction be left, then all will have to 

 be done over again. The crop should be washed out with 

 warm water, and must then be stitched up, the inner skin 

 first and the outer one afterwards, for which purpose silk or 

 horsehair are the best materials. The bird needs to be 

 fed on soft food, such as sopped bread, for three or four days, 

 and kept without water, when it will be none the worse for 

 the operation. 



Diarrhoea. — The use of bonemeal will generally prevent 

 this complaint, which may arise from an insufficient supply 

 of grain, or from unwholesome food. Some boiled rice 

 mixed with powdered chalk will often stop it, and we should 

 not advise any stronger remedy in slight cases. "When, 

 however, the diarrhoea becomes excessive ; then chlorodyne, 

 given in water as prescribed on the bottles, is the best thing 

 for it. 



Diphtheria. — We have never heard of this disease making 

 its appearance except in exhibition yards, and the ordinary 

 poultry keeper need not fear it, except when buying birds. 



