480 



Minor Ailments of Poultry. 



of glass ; by jumping down from a high perch on to a hard 

 floor ; or even, perhaps, from the bird's blood being out of 

 order, in which case it is rather hard to cure, as, besides poul- 

 ticing and lancing the foot, some tonic must be given internally 

 or blood poisoning may ensue. 



Five-toed birds, such as Dorkings, Faverolles or Houdans, are 

 peculiarly liable to this ailment, more especially when kept in 

 stony runs. 



In any case isolate the bird, and do not let it perch, but 

 bed it down on bruised straw (which should be changed 

 twice a day) ; poultice the injured foot as often as each 

 application gets cold with bread or linseed, and when the 

 foot is quite soft lance it lightly and squeeze out all matter, 

 afterwards washing the wound thoroughly but tenderly with a 

 weak solution of carbolic acid and water ; next take a soft 

 rag and dry the foot, and paint the wound with a solution 

 of 10 grains nitrate of silver in I oz. of distilled water. Bind 

 the foot up just so tightly as to bring the cut edges together, 

 put in two stitches, and in a few days the bird should be 

 well. 



In every case of lameness catch the bird up, wash the foot 

 quite clean, and examine it first before treating as here advised, 

 for if there be no sign of a wound, and the bird be either very 

 heavy or very light, it may be the mischief is caused by liver or 

 kidney trouble, as this ofttimes shows first by a lameness in one 

 leg, generally the left. 



Colds are not likely to develop into roup, but as they may do 

 so it is well to treat them promptly, when, as a rule, they are 

 quite easily cured. Do not say, as some do, " There's a chicken 

 ill, if any more go like that we shall have to do something." 

 Whenever a bird is ill, and whatever is the matter, take it away 

 from the others at once, for colds are often easily spread, and 

 much mischief may be caused by delay. 



A very good preventive of colds is to put a small piece of 

 camphor in each drinking trough, only on no account must the 

 water be allowed to dry up, or your camphor will evaporate and 

 your labour be wasted ; and to add a little ground ginger 

 to the soft food. If, in spite of all your care, colds do come, 

 then proceed as follows : — Rinse out the mouth of each 



