94 HOW I MADE $10,000 TN ONE YEAR 



that a thorough cleansing and disinfecting of tlie intesti- 

 nal tract cannot be harmful and we give them the salts 

 and tonic. Our experience is that the greater number 

 get over it. We segregate those afifected, putting them 

 in a large wire covered box, not too near the stove, until 

 they get their legs again. 



"Pufify crops" is another common trouble. You will 

 see chicks here and there, early in the morning, with 

 bloated crops which on examination are found to be air- 

 filled. An isolated case can be treated with a bit of 

 common soda, dissolved in water and poured down the 

 throat. If numerous cases develop give the whole lot a 

 dose of soda (as already described), adding a heaping 

 teaspoonful of ground ginger to two or three gallons of 

 water; give this two mornings in succession. 



Toe-picking is often encountered. The cause has been 

 ascribed to almost everything under the sun, from lack 

 of meat to an injured toe suffered by the great grand- 

 father. We think it is started by a nervous condition 

 due generally to excessive heat and lack of air, either in 

 the incubator (after hatching), on the road home, or in 

 the brooder house. Once started it is hard to control. x\t 

 the first sign we make sure there is plenty of fresh air 

 in the house and that the temperature is not too high. 

 Next the windows are darkened; and if the light is still 

 very strong the glass can be painted over with whitewash 

 into which a little lampblack or some blueing is added. 

 Then a special efifort is made to keep the chicks busy — 

 rake the litter into piles at intervals; they will try to 

 scratch them down as fast as you make them. Add a 

 little grain to each pile. Give them extra greens. Hang 



