LEGS AND FEET 



THEIR DISEASES AND INJURIES 



LEG WEAKNESS— BROKEN SHANKS— CRAMP— RHEUMA- 

 TISM— SCALY LEGS— DROPSY OF FEET— BUMBLE-FOOT 



DR. N. W. SANBORN 



LEG WEAKNESS is seldom to be seen except in half-grown stdck. 

 It appears in growing birds, between sixteen and twenty-four 

 weeks old, cockerels rather than pullets, in heavy rather than in 

 light weight breeds. Behind leg weakness we usually find a his- 

 tory of over-feeding of fat-producing foods, or the giving of too little of bone 

 and muscle foods, or both. Some cases have been seen in flocks fed a large 

 quantity of condiments or "egg food." Increasing the weight of the body 

 beyond the ability of the legs to support it, or any process that intends to 

 gain size at the expense of time, is liable to end in leg weakness. The first 

 symptom is a slight weakness of the legs in walking, hardly noticeable to a 

 stranger, but suggesting trouble to one who is observant of his own fowls. 

 The gait is unsteady, and the muscles are working at some disadvantage. 

 In a few days the fowl may be found sitting when eating, and it is inclined 

 to walk very little. Looking it over at this time you wiU find little wrong 

 except the leg trouble. The comb is bright, eyes clear, appetite good and 

 feathers bright and clean. As days go by, however, it presents a different 

 appearance. It is slow to feed, gets less than its share of grain, is picked at 

 by the other fowls, and driven from place to place, at length becomes thin 

 and lousy, and an object of worry to the owner. 



Treatment 



At the first appearance of leg-weakness, reduce the quantity of fat- 

 producing foods to a small amount. Take away corn and cornmeal, and 

 feed little condiments. If the fowls are at all crowded in house or roosts, 

 increase the space or dispose of some of them. Stop feeding every time 

 you go near them, giving food three times a day, but never to crowding 

 the crop. If possible, put the weak birds in a place by themselves, thus 

 avoiding their being imposed upon by stronger members of the flock. Feed 

 steamed cut clover as a noon meal, whether it be summer or winter. As 

 is the case with all birds, clean water and houses are needed to go with 

 improved care. Rub the legs with tincture of arnica and add one-half 

 teaspoonful of tincture of nux vomica to each quart of the drinking water. 

 A good brand of meat meal, containing at least one-fifth bone, should be 

 made part of the morning mash in the proportion of one part meal to six 

 of grain and clover. If you have peas or beans that you can boil and add 



to the mash it wiU be helpful in building up the strength of the birds. 



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