178 



MRS. BASLEY'S WESTERN POULTRY BOOK 



on the plant is a source of danger to 

 every other bird. 



Scaly leg is so easily cured that no 

 intelligent poultryman is excusable for 

 having its presence on his place for over 

 a week. Every bird bought should be 

 examined for scaly leg, and any doubt- 

 ful one receive immediate attention. If 

 you at any time find several cases on 

 hand I would advise the applying of the 

 proper treatment to every bird on the 

 place. This is not much trouble and 

 prevents the cropping out of new cases 

 in a short time. 



Paint the perches with lice killer or 

 kerosene and naphthalene flakes. 



Scaly leg comes from the scale mite 

 and is very infectious. 



Swell Head— My chickens are dying 

 off awfully. Many of them are good 

 sized pullets. Their heads seem to swell 

 and they go blind and just drop off. 

 Some of them open their mouths and 

 stretch and act as though something 

 was choking them, but I cannot detect 

 anything. They had mites, but have 

 none now. We have a good yard for 

 them, and an alfalfa patch and some 

 shade trees. I feed them well, and am 

 at a loss to understand. My neighbors 

 on either side of us have the same trou- 

 ble.— Mrs. F. K. 



Answer — Your chickens have what is 

 called "swell head" and roup. They 

 have either caught it from taking cold 

 or from the lice which they used to 

 have, or by infection from the neigh- 

 bors. I think probably there is a 

 draught in their sleeping quarters, from 

 a crack or a knot hole or it may be 

 wrong ventilation. Stop these up and be 

 sure the chickens do not live or sleep 

 in a draught. Rub their heads with 

 carbolated vaseline, and give each of 

 those affected a quinine pill every other 

 night for a week, and add a little poul- 

 try tonic to their food. I think as soon 

 as you stop whatever may be the cause 

 of their taking cold you will have no 

 further trouble. Be sure to keep the 

 sick fowls away from the balance of the 

 flock. 



Answer — Your chickens and turkeys 

 have lice and are taking cold. _ They 

 are taking cold from either sleeping in 

 a draught or sleeping in a place that is 

 too close and hot, so they take cold 

 when they come out in the morning. 

 Remedy the cause and use one of the 

 many roup cures, and also get rid of 

 the lice. Lice go to the eyes to drink 

 and so spread the disease. 



Eyes Swelled Shut and Water— 

 Will you kindly tell me the cause of 

 sore eyes? My chickens' eyes swell 

 shut and water. I also have turkeys ; 

 their eyes swell underneath. — Mrs. C. 

 J. N. 



Toe Eating — Can you tell me what 

 causes little chicks to pick at each oth- 

 ers toes? They will pick at one till 

 the blood comes, then so many chase it 

 that it dies. Then they start on an- 

 other and sometimes they even eat the 

 entrails out. I bought my chickens 

 when they were a week old and fed 

 them according to your directions. I 

 first fed raw meat and cooked, then I 

 tacked pieces on a board to keep them 

 busy, but nothing seemed to stop them, 

 and I took the one out with the sore 

 toes. I gave lime and salts and char- 

 coal. I hatched some dark colored chicks 

 in my own incubator and with them I 

 have not had any trouble in any way. I 

 trust that you can help me. — H L. 



Answer — It is usually with the white 

 or light colored chicks that we have 

 this trouble. The little toes are so at- 

 tractive and look so very good to eat 

 that a lively chick will often try to taste 

 his neighbor's toe and it tastes so good 

 that he continues the performance and 

 soon teaches the others. Dark toes are 

 not so attractive looking, hence their im- 

 munity. You did quite right to add 

 more meat and even a little salt to their 

 diet, but the best way of preventing the 

 trouble is to give the chicks chaff at 

 least an inch deep in the nursery of 

 their brooder. I have found that alfalfa 

 hay or wheat hay cut in a clover cutter 

 an inch in length make very good chaff 

 for the chicks. I scatter the chick feed 

 a little at a time, three times a day, in 

 this, and the chicks scratch in it and 

 find the grains and at the same time it 

 conceals their toes from their hungry 

 brothers. In this way you not only pre- 

 vent this vice, but you make the chicks 

 scratch many hours a day and that 

 broadens their backs and develops the 

 egg organs and strengthens their diges- 

 tion, keeps them out of mischief, healthy, 

 happy and busy. Try this plan and you 

 will be surprised to find what extra fine 

 layers you will have next year. 



