WITH 4200 HENS 149 



black color in the comb. In extreme weather birds will 

 show a bluish tinge in the comb and this will disappear 

 if the bird is put in a dry, warm place ; but the fact that 

 it is susceptible to the weather indicates that the bird is 

 not in what might be termed "the pink of condition." 



The careful poultryman will watch the drop-boards as 

 regularly as he watches the nests. The dioppings of a 

 hen in good health and condition are voided in a rather 

 compact mass, tending tOA^ard a point on one end, greyish 

 in color with a decided cream-colored spot in the mass, 

 and of the consistency of soft putty. Any variation in- 

 dicates error somewhere. If the mass is too hard there 

 is a tendency toward constipation ; if too soft, the reverse. 

 In most cases the variation is due to an error in feeding. 

 This may be the fault of the bird or of the feeder. 



Slight variations need cause no concern ; the bird may 

 have over-eaten of one thing or another. It is only when 

 violent variations are observed, variations that are ap- 

 parent for days at a time, that the cause of the trouble 

 must be looked for. If the drop-boards and the yards 

 show masses of watery discharge, or soft yellow or 

 brownish material, it is well to exercise caution. 



All flocks will show the effects of a sudden change in 

 temperature, the lack, even for a short time, of pure fresh 

 water, a sudden variation in diet, or the continued lack 

 of some important element in the feed, such as shell, grit 

 or green stuff. The feeding of immature grains, heated 

 corn, or an absence of variety in the ration will also be 

 apparent in the droppings. So it follows that if the off- 

 color or imperfect consistency continues and no other 

 sign of trouble is apparent we must look to the feed and 



