Treatment of Slipped Wings. 
H5 
weakness , but as we shall tieat this in its place among diseases, we do not further discuss it here; 
the moie so as the bone-dust we have already recommended will greatly obviate any trouble in 
this way. Theie is however another misfortune to which many varieties are liable during the 
acquisition of the adult plumage, which will be better dealt with in this place. Asiatic breeds are 
the most fiequent suffcieis, though others are also liable to what frequently disappoints a fancier’s 
hopes from his finest birds. We allude to what poultry-men call “slipped” or “turned” wings: 
the primary feathers, or those which ought to be nicely tucked away out of sight when the wing is 
closed, protruding in more or less disorder outside the others. That this tendency is to some extent 
hereditary there can be no doubt ; and it mars the beauty of a bird completely, amounting almost 
to disqualification in a good competition. Pullets are far less liable to it than cockerels, and 
therefore when it occurs in the female sex it is proportionately far more serious in character. In 
the most aggravated form, the flight -feathers appear actually twisted round the quills, so that the 
proper inside of the feather becomes outside ; and in this form the affection is both strongly 
hereditary and we believe incurable. But when it merely amounts to a failing to tuck the flight- 
feathers in, without any great disorder among those feathers themselves, it may almost always be 
cured if taken in due time. The usual cause we believe to be the buffeting of cockerels by then 
stronger neighbours, which causes rapid flapping followed by imperfect return ; and after a few 
times this becomes habitual and the mischief is done: at least it more rarely occurs m aw.de run, 
or in the master-bird of the yard. . . , 
The treatment is very simple. As soon as any displacement of t ic new cat “is is o s > 
the wings should be carefully tucked up every night at roost, but nothing further can be done 
they are grown enough to hold a ligature, when one or both wings as required should be ca> y 
bound up with each feather in proper position. The manner in w id, tins - ° " 
in Fig. 49. the wing being bound round rather tightly as near the shoulder as pos sM ^a ter 1 « 
the cord fs carried from the knot at A, round the shoulder at B, to the inside p 
this is of course simply to be employed, 
is necessary, as if the retaining coid be too - . qnc i distress. Patience 
it will cut and become embedded in the web of the wing, causing m r fiv£ or six 
and tact are also required, and we have had buds we wete ° ^ ^ ^ b to b 
t is * depends ; - the * - - » be ** 
