CHAPTER XLI 



ROUP 



Roup has caused more havoc in poultry keeping than 

 any one disease. Thousands of fowls succumb annu- 

 ally from its ravages, and entire flocks are wiped out 

 or made useless for future breeding purposes. It is 

 very contagious, and one infected bird may spread 

 the disease throughout the flock in a very short time. 



Many inexperienced poultry keepers mistake a 

 severe cold for roup. A neglected cold may develop 

 into a case of roup; hence, a fowl suffering from a 

 cold, be it ever so slight, should not be passed by 

 lightly, but should be taken in hand and treated. 

 This malignant disease is more prevalent during the 

 fall and winter months, especially when the weather 

 is cold and damp. Summer cases are not so common 

 unless the hens are kept under insanitary conditions. 

 Filthy, damp quarters, too close housing, and unclean 

 drinking vessels are breeders of this disease. Roup 

 may also be inherited from parent stock which has 

 been afTected with it, and not properly cured. A run- 

 down flock with low vitality is an easy prey to its 

 ravages. 



The common symptoms of roup are a discharge of 

 the nostrils, which thickens as the disease progresses ; 



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