2i6 The Hen at Work 



the hover. They eat nothing. Soon a sticky 

 whitish substance is voided, that clings to the 

 feathers about the vent, and gathers in some 

 quantity. The wings droop, the chicken utters 

 shrill peeps of. pain, and usually dies within a 

 week. 



It is generally agreed to-day that chickens may 

 contract this disease, and recover enough to appear 

 normal, but never expel aU the germs. Later, 

 when eggs are laid, they are infected by the same 

 badUi. The hatching process does not kiU them, 

 and when the chick is bom, there are the same 

 old germs ready to attack him. 



Some States now send men to test hens for breed- 

 ing in any flock, for a small sum, to see if this germ 

 is present. If so, the hen affected is taken out 

 of the breeding pen. This is a simple and efficient 

 plan, which has rid many large plants of this fatal 

 disease. 



If laboratory tests are not possible, another plan 

 has given good results. As the disease is taken 

 during the first two or three days of a chick's life, 

 and it is reasonably sure that infection comes 

 through the egg, we can stop it at its source, or- at 

 least check it. Before the hatch is put into the 



