144 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



lack of exercise. The best remedy is to give the 

 fowls wider range or to use a deep litter in the house 

 and force them to scratch persistently for all the 

 grain they get. Busy hens rarely have time to in- 

 dulge in these evil practices. Of course, a generous 

 supply of beef scraps should be given, if the trouble 

 may be traced to a lack of sufficient meat in their 

 rations. 



Scaly legs are caused by a parasite and the remedy 

 is three tablespoonfuls of lard, two of kerosene oil 

 and one of glycerine, which should be mixed warm 

 and two drops of carbolic acid added. Aftej" wash- 

 ing and drying the legs of the birds, this mixture 

 should be applied generously and when warm. Two 

 applications a week for a month will usually prove 

 sufficient. 



Sick birds are not worth bothering with, as a rule. 

 The amateur who keeps his flock well housed, well 

 fed and in a sanitary condition will have little trouble 

 with disease, anyway, if cautious about introducing 

 strange birds. 



