108 



SUCCESS WITH POULTR"? 



Symptoms.— Comb turning black, swelling of the feet 

 and legs, accompanied ty gradual emaciation. 



Treatment. — The same as prescribed for indigestion will 

 generally prove effective. 



HEENIA. 

 Or Protrusion of the Egg Passage. 



Oauaes.^-It is caused by the exertions of the hen to ex- 

 pel an unusually large egg, or in old fowls the general relax- 

 ation of the system. 



Symptoms. — Protrusion of the laying 'gut of the hen, 

 which is forced out to such an extent after laying that it 

 oftentimes does not recede. 



Treatment. — Put the hen on a diet of rice and boiled 

 potatoes. If the gut shows no inclination of receding itself, 

 bathe the parts with lukewarm water, and after rubbing 

 the protrusion with witch hazel, linseed or sweet oil, gently 

 press it back into the body. Give daily a pill composed of 

 two grains of calomel, one-quarter of a grain of tartar 

 emetic, and one grain of opium; the above is for a large 

 fowl, one-half a pill will be sufficient for a small bird. Do 

 not give the fowl- any stimulating food. ' 



SOFT EGGS. 



Causes.^Overfeeding and the want of the proper mater- 

 ial for the hens to eat so as to form the shell. 



Symptoms, — More or less inflamation of the egg passage, 

 and the appearance of the egg itself. 



Treatment. — Bestrain from overfeeding, and place with- 

 in reach of the hens plenty of old mortar or crushed oyster 

 shells. Where it arises from the inflammation of the egg 

 passage, give bolus of barley containing oae grain of calom^el 

 and half a grain of tartar' emetic. 



BAD MOULTING. 



Causes. — Though molting may not be classified as a dis- 

 ease, it is considered the most critical period of the year 

 for old fowls. A greater drain is upon the system of the 

 fowl during its change of feathers than at any other time, 

 as not only .does the life-giving process of nature have to be 

 sustained, but an entire new coat has to be grown. But 

 moulting is generally caused by either too close confine- 

 ment, improper food or a constitutional weakness of the 

 fowl, occasioned by too long in-and-in breeding. 



Symptoms. — A general wasting away, inactivity of the 

 bird during the time of process of moulting. 



Treatment.— Take good care that the fowl is kept 

 warm, and not allowed to go in the wet or rain; give soft, 

 warm food in the morning, with good grain mixed with 

 hemp seed in the. evening, also a little chopped meat daily, 

 or bread soaked in ale; also add our Eeliable Roup Tonic to 

 the drinking water, a teaspoonfnl to a pint of water. 

 CHICKEN POX. 



Causes. — This disease is frequently caused by unfavor- 

 able conditions of the atmosphere and generally occurs in 

 cold, wet weather. It is of an infectious character. 



Symptoms.^The head, face or body is covered with small 

 ulcers, containing an infectious m'atter. • 



Treatment. — First wash with castile soap, and then with 

 a strong solution of chlorate of potash; also mix a little 

 pulverized charcoal and sulphur in the soft food, about a 

 teaspoonful of each to a pint of meal. Anoint the head 

 with "Carbolate of Cosmoline" until cured. 



FEOSTED COMB AND WATTLES. 



Causes. — Exposure to cold, freezing weather, more par- 

 ticularly at night. 



Symptoms. — Discoloration of the top of the comb and 

 edges of the' wattles, which first turn a purplish color and 

 afterwards become pale and bloodless. 



Treatment. — Anoint the parts with the witch hazel oil, 

 bathe with cold water, after which apply glycerine and 

 "Carbolate of Cosmoline." 



VEBMIN. 



Causes. — Filthiness of quarters, foul nests, want of earth 

 baths. 



Symptoms. — General wasting away, with a constant 

 pecking and scratching of the body. 



Treatment. — Clean out and fumigate the hen house by 

 closing it up tight and burning sulphur therein; make new 

 nests, with a dust bath mixed with powdered carbolate of 

 lime, also put into the roots of the feathers of the fowls 

 Persian insect powder, and if the bird appears suffering 

 from debility, treat it the same as already prescribed. 



CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



Colds, roup, diphtheria are highly catching, and such 

 cases should at once bo isolated. Birds suffering from diar- 

 rhoea or cholera should be parted also, as they make the 

 ground very unhealthy . for the other stock. The slightest 

 ailment should at first be treated as contagious and isola- 

 tion effected. When the nature of the complaint is discov- 

 ered, treat accordingly. Doctoring poultry is most trouble- 

 some and very expensive; prevention is better than cure. 



CROWDING, ' 



One of the commonest evils, and most fatal tO Success. 

 Most amateurs go in for several breeds of poultry. Would 

 advise starting with one Or two breeds at first. The birds 

 may be kept in comparative comfort during the winter 

 months, but in the breeding season when the chickens begin 

 to come, and in August, when pullets have to be separated 

 from_ cockerels, and these again in October kept separate 

 from adult hens — when these also have to be parted from 

 their mates, and exhibition birds require each their roomy 

 and separate pen — it is impossible to rear many breeds suc- 

 cessfully, each having its perfect exhibition specimen. For 

 this, space is a matter of necessity. 



DAMPNESS. 



Dampness in poultry houses is especially injurious to 

 health. Care should be taken to stop all leakage, and to 

 ■insure dry sleeping places. Birds will bear being out on. a 

 grass-run on the wettest ' days better than being housed in 

 a damp place. Carelessness in this respect is the source of 

 colds, inflammation of the stomach and liver disease, and 

 is apt to' develop scrofulous deposits should the strain be 

 weakly in any way. 



DROPPING EGGS. ' 



This is caused by too stimulating diet, also by want of 

 lime, oyster shells or grit for shell formation, also by the 

 hens being too fat. Feed less, give no meat for a time, vary 

 the diet with rice, potatoes and wheat. Give a dose or two 

 of castor oil, and iron tonic in the water. Should this not 

 cure the evil, .give one grain of calomel and one-twelfth grain 

 of tartar emetic. 



DUSTING. 



Poultry are in the habit of cleaning themselves in dry 

 dust, mortar, rubbish or ashes by scratching the dust up in 

 their feathers. This keeps them in health, and prevents 

 vermin. Provide a dust bath for the purpose — a good large 

 box with sides about a foot high filled with dust, dry 

 screened mortar refuse, road scrapings, fine gravel or sand,, 

 or let the whole sheltered run be covered deep in the above, 

 in which case no special bath is necessary. Hens are wretch- 

 ed if this absolute necessity for their comfort is not studied. 

 The dust bath, however, has its dangers in the case of bens 

 with newly hatched broods.. 



