Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1882-03-30

the sake of eating grass. For this reason
they should never be sent abroad with empty
crops. In the eager endeavar to gather the
few green blades they frequently gorge
themselves with dead grass, which clogs the |
crop and brings on indigestion. Tie only |
remedy is to avoid it. If taket, in hand us
soon as discovered, simple remedies my be- |
administered that will remove the difficulty
but usually it is not discovered until too
late, and the fowl is past all aid. They do
not begin to droop, and hence are not OBJ
served until too far gone tor the application
Of the proper remedies. ....
The comb is the fowls pulse. Another
never'tailiug indication is the carriage of
the tail. If the comb has wilted, limp ap-
pearance and droops heavily from the base,
with langnid movement, it is certain that
the bird is sick aud requires Immediate at
tentl@n. The appetite is no guide. Fowls
Will eat with the others when with the flock,
even though the crop be full almost to dis
tension, Another sympl ON, although this
does not occur until tar gone, is the constant
desire to drink. The fever at this stage is
great and the contents OF the crop hard
The fluid taken into the crop dis,ends it
enormously, yet at that stage 1t is all the
relief the poor creature can find from the
burning tever. AT this stage there can be
no help. The first symptoms are to be
watched for, and then relief may be avail.
a0le. Tie spreading of the tail when the
fo"l IS in repese is q bad symptom, as well
as lfle sudden rising and falling Of The tea
lhers on the back, as though the fowl We're
in the act Of shaking itself but does NOT.
These false movements of the feathers NAV
also be observed when the fowl is Infested
| with vermn. The best time to observe the
fowls is when they are quiet, standing. as II
were, Inactive or reposing in the sun. This
they Will do without restraint when accus-
TONED 10 the presence of their keeper. The
one that does not trim the feather but rals-
es them until they fairly bris,le all over The
body. and then allows them to TALL with an
lnd"lent movement, with neck and head
drawn in, resting on the crop, never once
picking among the mass Of feathers, but
standing rigid and fixed, is out Of order in
some manner; that fowl needs examining
1t the tail feathers be folded closely until
they represent but one or two feathers, and
carried erect, The bird is strong aud vigor-
Gus. This Is pretty sure index. 1t may
sometimes be spread to three or four te:,-
theirs.
Another disorder, and one greatly to be
dreaded. and one tor which there is seldom
any remedy, is that of being egg bound.
This also arises from weakness, and makes
itself manifest at this season when the fowls
are fed on high-seaSoned rations aud are
weak from confinement. Or it may BE- the
result of sudde, colds, which dsarrange the
internal organs to such an extent that they
do not perform their appointed Offices
Laying hens re lnire more attention nd
care during these two months (February
and Marcl,},.for they are the most trying in
the wholeyear They are nervous and sem
sitive, and easily contract colds, but once
safely ever this period, they are secure tor
the season. Exposure or bad food should
be avoided during this period. Never turn
the fowls out early in the morning on empty
crops until the weather is mild, and the
hens have been gradually accustomed to
the change. All changes should be made
gradually and with forethoue ht.--C Corr
Country Gentleman. .@ tn~Anat