hand doping, and mixing dope in the feed with the idea of 

 ridding fowls of vermin will not suffice. 



CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF LEG WEAKNESS IN 

 POULTRY FLOCKS 



To the inquiries of many poultrymen and women as to 

 what causes, how to prevent, and how to cure leg weakness 

 in poultry, will say that this is usually caused by forcing the 

 growth of the chick too rapidly. Especially is this the case 

 with broilers. Another frequent cause is the improper tem- 

 perature in the brooder. Where there is too much bottom 

 heat, this trouble will be encountered. Also it is sometimes 

 caused by worms ; and again it is found in cases of metallic 

 poisoning, birds losing entire control of their legs. 



The name is a good indication of the nature of the trouble. 

 The fowl walks and stands with difficulty, and it may sit 

 down while eating. This is sometimes taken for rheumatism, 

 but in leg weakness the shank remains soft, while in rheum- 

 atism it drys up and becomes contracted. If the cause is 

 improper heat in the brooder, change it ; if improper feeding, 

 build up the proper health by discontinuing heavy carbon- 

 aceous food, such as commeal, cracked com, etc., and give 

 wheat bran, Canadian peas, boiled beans, together with meat 

 meal and a goodly supply of alfalfa meal in a crumbly mash. 

 Also put rusty nails or old iron in the drinking water. If you 

 have any old horseshoes lying around the premises, put one 

 in each drinking crock. Cut down the food supply in general 

 as overfeeding is the most frequent cause. In the case of 

 metallic poisoning, give milk in place of drinking water, the 

 first thing in the morning. Always using crocks in the place 

 of any galvanized vessel and let them have water afterwards. 



A splendid tonic to feed your chickens once or twice a 

 week which is found elsewhere in this book, is the following: 

 Mix together 9 lbs. of flour of sulphur, 5 lbs. Epsom salts, 

 3 lbs. bi-carbonate of soda, 3 lbs. copperas (Iron Sulphates) . 

 Feed 1 lb. of this mixture to every 100 hens mixed in a 

 crumbly mash, using cold water, fed twice a week. 



Prevention. Do not confine chicks in a small yard but 

 allow free range. Plenty of fresh air is necessary. The brood- 

 er house should be kept warm, but have plenty of fresh air. 

 Do not use a bottom heated brooder. Keep plenty of litter on 

 the floor. Let the chickens out on the ground as soon as the 

 weather is warm, but not so long as they will become chilled. 



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