Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-16
Habits
and Vices of
Chickens
sy Fl. 3. BUSTING.
Ear FatInd,

. .ra of the most costly and
. of the acquired habits of
md that it generally begins
OCCIDENTAL breaking of an egg in
O and spreads rapidly among the
--l MANY of the eggs laid are
''- broken and eaten by the hens,
..r.s are more likely to contract
.. because they are more liable
s... tual- eggs by stepping on them
.o ..nr birds. When a hen breaks
.""" ... NOT only eats its contents in
d" -S nrr often carries large pieces
u' ne, -t.u about the house or yard,
., -,a,a other birds, all eager TO get
As..' rims. the knowledge of how APP
...gs and egg shells are is spread,
and one bird becomes the teacher OF
-.tor Thin shells break more easily
and fl is therefore obvious that de-
' 'D;,oo,. fr the shell making constituents
's the Feed is a factor, However an egg
he broken for the want of enough
.trau or nesting material to protect II
,ron the contact with wood or stone
crnnlv the nest with sufficient straw
. ,,se some kind Of artificial nest egg.
frts straw I'M the nest should be OF
= sar. color So that a broken egg may not
ot+ract the hens attention. However,
g.. -, habit Is acquired, it IS best to have
t,,o nests reconstructed so that the eggs
mill roll beyond the reach of the hen
,rbsr laid Also by the use Of artificial
Zoos I'm the nest and houses permit the
1.ers I'm nick at them and get the idea
.f.r rney are unable to break the shells.
\ y.r,..t,res however, they will become
\ confirmed egg eaters, In such cases l
n frf fl hest to remove them from the flock
,r1 either kin them for table use or sell
them
FEATHER pulling and Feather Eating.
bqvo seen fowls acquire the habit of
extracting and eating their own feathers
mp milling tine feathers of other members
.. Tho yard Spring and melting time
taz,r the contracting of this vice. In
5i.etfors of its existence are loss of
r,rnaage, barrenness and redness of the
.1r over the back and on the upper thigh.
pr watching the birds you will discover
Them m act Of catching one or more
feathers in their beaks, tearing them out
and swallowing them The young grow
J. ng feathers having quilts filed with blood
} seem to be delicacies.
/ Cause: Improper ration, insufficient
exercise idlaness, irritation of the skin
caused by parasites, or anything causing
an abnormal appetite may become a con
tributlve factor in the contracting of this
vice,
Preventive and curative measures: Give
the fowls a free range. or If they are
penned, give them good roomy yards,
make them scratch for a large per cent
If their feed This will aid their diges-
ton and occupy their time. Very often
the habit is due to insufficient animal
matter In their ration, or to feeding too
/ long on a single grain ration. 1t is, there
fore very important to properly balance
the ration. Examine the skin and feath-
rrs carefully for mites or lice, and if such
are found, or If not found, give them fire.
auent applications of some good insect
powder, keep the house Whit awashed in
side and out use kerosene frequently on
fGe roosts and anywhere that lice might
breed also keep a supply of road dust
or coal eiEders where they can wallow
I'M tt, and the lice can be kept under con-
troll However if the habit IS acquired
ara they can not be cured Of it, it is
hest to treat as suggested above for the
co9irmed egg eaters.