Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-08-13
Chickens and their Treatment.

Mr.. Editor: have great many letters
from poultry fanciers lying before me that
am unable TO answer without you will allow
me to do so through the columns Of your
valuable paper.
Some want to know which is the best
breed for profit, for eggs, the most hardy,
the cure for cholera, roup, pip, etc, and as
far as am able am perfectly willing to do
So providing that incur no expense, as l
am not in the business at present.
| For farmers who breed for profit, in my
estimation, the best breed is either the Ply
mouth Rock or u cross between the English
Dorkin and the Light Brahma, which gives
us good layer, of good size, and good flesh.
The best for eggs are the Brown Leghorns ;
they were always at the head of the list of
twenty-five varieties that / raised and bred
from, which were all the leading kinds
The Black Spanish, Plymouth Rock, White
Leghorns, Houdans, which are about equal
as layers, come next. Next in line are the
Games, Polish and Hamburgs. The Dark
Brahmas are the best where flesh is wanted.
| have had them to turn the scale at four
teen and a quarter pounds. The Buff Co
chin, when bred with care, are a good variety
to look at, as layers they are very poor The
Partridge Cochins are the best of the family
of Cochins the white and black are not de-
sirable varieties.
OF the great many diseases that the poul-
try kingdom is subject to, the most prevalent
is the pip, which is often mistaken for the
cholera. The symptoms are that the hens
are sad, do not scratch, like to hide, sit with
open bill and ruffied feathers, are sore and
bloated, and from time to time sound like
Zip, zip" is heard; their nostrils become
blocked with tough mucus secretion, the
comb hangs sideways, loose and withered
and of a pale yellowish appearance, the skin
of the neither side of the tongue is hardened,
the crop is mostly empty on account of the
difficulty of swallowing.
Considering its true exciting causes, the
treatment should be to separate it from all
other fowls for several days and feed it on
soft food, such as bread soaked in milk, green
vegetables, boiled potatoes, etc, give dose
of Spunga Dissolve one, drop in six tea
spoonsful water, and give one three times a
day, il the fowl happens be small one,
make the medicine weaker by adding
two more spoonsful of water. have had
single dose to effect cure Those faith
fully following the plain directions given
will be surprised how speedily and easily
hitherto untractable poultry diseases may
be overcome, and become convinced of the
superiority of the mild treatment over that
hitherto followed or recommended.
To cure the cholera is more easily said
than done. have had great success with
the mother tincture of NoX Vomica. Dis
solve one drop in eight teaspoonsful water
and give one every two hours until amelio-
ration or change. The diseased hens must
be Immediately separated from the healthy,
thus preventing all contact between them.
The coop has also TO be carefully cleaned by
sweeping and washing and frequently be
gtrnxvnl with frach can1 aud ~ nnpxfantant
with charcoal, as every square inch of it
will take up twenty-seven square inches of
impure air or gas, and if charcoal is pounded
fine and mixed with the food of fowls il
will prevent a great deal of diseases The
cause of cholera is attributed TO atmospheric
conditions, as the plague is mostly observed
during hot and dry weather.
The rQup, as a rule, is n light complaint,
and its removal is effected by keeping the
fowl dry and warm and feeding il on soft
food. The duration is, however, much short
ened by few doses of Mercur Vivus, and in
case the nasal slime should thicken and the
eyes be blurred, give Euphrasia. For fever.
ish condition give Aconite. Give the selected
remedy three or four times day; dose, one
drop in eight teaspoonsful of water Keep the
medicine in a dark, cool place and be careful
not 10 change the corks from one bottle 10
another, and do not change one medicine TO
another bottle that has had other medicines
In IL, as il would destroy them.
All of the above mentioned medicines are
Homeopathic, and some Of the strongest and
most energetic known, and IL might not be
amiss 10 mention aud caution the use of two
of them, viz; Mercur Nivus (which Is quick.
silver and Aconite, which Is a most deadly
poison, but stands without an equal In re-
ducing fever In man, beast or fowl.
have had considerable experience with
both modes oftreatment (Allopathic an HON.
Wpathic) and prefer the latter ON account of
the easy way of administering aud It's cheap
mes; 80 easy 10 understand, and but one
kind given at a time. II can be dissolved in
either milk or water, but where milk Is used
only mix enough for immediate use.
have ofien been amused at my brother,
while my partner In the poultry business,
mixing up different kinds Of medicines and
then wonder II the disease, instead Of getting
better, got worse, therefore II is best 10 use
what is most easy 10 understand and give
correctly. For example, take two parts of
Mercury and two parts OF Chlorine and We
form Calomel, which Is not poison, but change
the proportions b. one part of Mercury and
two parts OF Chlorine and we get Corrosive
Sublimate (which Is a deadly poison.