The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-11
Ghf Sarmer.
CURE FOR CHICKEN CHOLERA.
BY q. o. BROWN,

This ravaging disease, once commencing
in the poultry. yard, is apt to depopulate
in sufficient numbers to discourage the
most ardent chicken fancier. Numerous
reasons are assigned as the cause of the
disease. Some declare it is due to uncIean
hen houses; some attribute it to vermin
chen lice;) while others advance the theory
that it is caused by too fine breeding.
The latter supposed cause is hardly plausi-
Bile, for | have known whole Hoeks Of
common fowls to perish with it in day
and night. | am quite confident the main
cause is the feed used A long continu-
Gus feed or diet Of any one kind Of food
viii in due time very seriously affect d.
gestion; the bowels become loose and ir-
regular, the droppings are of a yellow
greenish hue-which is always the fore
runner of cholera. Quite a number of
instances have come to my knowledge
where this disease was certainly caused by
feeding corn exclusively. As the disease
seems to prevail more in spring time, Gin
this vicinity at least, when the fowls are
confed, while the garden is getting a start,
and while thus shut up many farmers say
they feed all the corn they ,CW eat" and
here let me say, that cholera breaks out
in these eorn-fed yards before it is known
where miscellaneous diet is given. Fan
ciers always provide their fowls with
varied diet, and cholera is comparatively
speaking stranger among these focks.
Healthy fowls are not apt to have the
cholera, and judiciOus feeding and proper
care and attention viii keep the focks in
a healthy condition. Last spring a gen.
tleman sent for me to come and see his
fowls, which he said were dying with the
cholera. As soon as I entered the yard l
discovered the cause of the disease. Lumps
of soured corn meal, which had been
mixed with cold ,cater, were scattered
arouRd- All that vas done to check the
disease, in this instance, was the removal
of the meal, and subsequent feeds of meal
were mixed with scalding water. | keep
my foeks in health by change of diet,
feeding about as follows The morning
meal should be ground oats, rye and corn,
about equal quantities of each ground to-
gether. This should be mixed with boil
ing or scalding water. 1t should be so
mixed that it viii crumbIe when thrown
upon the ground. Cover il up in the YES
sci it is mixed in with an old bag, and let
stand nalf an hour to steam and cook
To five quarts of this meal, before the
water is poured on, teaspoonful of fine
salt should be well stirred through it.
Once a month also add to the above
named quantity of meal a tablespoonful of
hax-seed meal, and occasionally tea
spoonful -four of sulphur-this should not,
however, be fed except during good ,oeatl,er.
If confined in close quarters, at noon a
feed of green food is necessary. IF fowls
have an unlimited range they are better
to work for their MONDAY meal. In
small yards suspend a cabbage head, so it
will hang about six or eight inches from
the ground. At evening, at this season
of the year, cracked corn, oats, or good
screenings, should be fed. During cold
weather corn is preferable, as it contains
more heat. / sometimes vary the morn
ing feed by giving boiled oats or rye.
Corn meal should nerer be fed mixed with
eOtd ,cater. Poultry viii eat more of it
than they should, and when it comes to
swell 1t produces erop-bound, sours, indi-
gestion follows,-and cholera is the final
result / have known chicks when dying
off by whole broods with gapes, which
were fed on cold water mixed with meal.
to be Immediately checked and finally en-
tirely stopped by scalding the meal. If
those that are troubled with gapes will
feed sealded meal and good screenings,
and see that the chicks get clean, fresh
and pure water, which should be thrown
out and dishes washed out and water re-
plenished often, and see that there are no
cesspools or impure water standing around
where the chicks can quench their thirst,
the gapes viii disappear. Immediately
upon the first evidence of cholera's ap
proach-which n.ay be readily told by the
droppings-the morning feed should be
mixed as usual, but to the water add
enough Jamaica ginger to make the wa
ter look blush or milky, and then scald
aeal as usual. This viii Immediately check
the disease. Pulverized alum is also good
mixed With the feed. A lump of assafa-
tid4 should be kept ia the drinking water
for day or two. Do not feed any whole
grains to the birds until you are satisfied
they have fully recovered. One of the
most excellent things to keep fowls in
health is feeding with their mixed food
powdered charcoal Al ear of corn pla-
ced in the oven until the kernels are
charred black, they will desour with avi-
dity. la hot weather see that they have
shade, and good, well-ventilated houses;
observe these Instructions and poultry dis
eases will be comparative strangers among
your iocks.