Minor Ailments of Poultry. 



477 



In the first place, it must not be forgotten that the most 

 successful breeders and fatteners never keep diseased birds 

 about their yards (unless in the case of very valuable stock 

 which will pay for the curing) ; it is generally cheaper and 

 wiser to kill and burn the sick bird straight away ; but if 

 your birds be valuable ones, isolate and treat them according 

 to the directions given in this article, and you will then 

 probably cure about 70 per cent, of them. 



To be sure of making a larger profit year by year, you should 

 remember and observe the following rules : — 



1. Never breed from birds which have been cured, apparently, 

 of roup, dropsy, liver disease, or consumption ; 



2. Always be careful to give your stock plenty of clean, fresh 

 water at least once a day, so that they need not drink any filthy 

 stuff they may come across ; 



3. Be sure that your poultry houses are well built and 

 thoroughly ventilated, but are not in the least degree draughty ; 



4. Be most careful to see that these houses are kept clean 

 and sweet, and free from vermin of all kinds , 



5. Breed only from those of your hens which lay best — weed 

 out e< ch year those which, either by reason of the small size of 

 their eggs or from their inferior laying capacities, cannot be 

 termed really profitable ; 



6. Remember that brains and energy, coupled with a careful 

 attention to details, are more valuable than the practice of false 

 economy, whether as regards money or time ; 



7. Above all else, remember that unless your birds have a 

 proper supply of clean water and suitable foods, they cannot 

 lay eggs, however well they may have been bred for the 

 purpose ; 



8. Do not forget that, as birds have no teeth, and in order 

 that they may properly masticate their food, and so keep free 

 from indigestion and liver disease, hard grit of some kind must 

 be found for them. The cry, " My birds can get grit for them- 

 selves," is too often untrue ; fowls are not quarrymen and they 

 cannot get more grit than is actually on the surface, while only 

 certain sizes of this are of any real good. 



Poultry-keeping is a national industry, not a mere hobby to 

 be dabbled with in one's spare time, and to succeed it must 



