Milford chronicle., 1916-06-09
A TALK ON DROOP-
ing WING FEATHERS
By J. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights ReServed1

Each year as the spring months roun'
into those of summer, and when tn
yard of the average chicken breeder o.
fancier is crowded with many beautiful
downy little fellows, in the hope tina
most of them can be brought to matur
itY or to that stage when they are dis
posed of as broilers and thus converted
into money, the cry goes up that many
losses occur as the result of the drOop-
ing of wing feathers, which causes the
ultimate death of many promising speci-
mems.
While this condition is particularly
noticeable among fowls of the Mediter-
ranean class, yet it is also frequently
seen among those of other classes as
well, and never fails to cause a wall to
90 up from the breeder as to the cause
for the ailment. The average breeder
makes the claim that the wing feathers
grow so rapidly that their weight causes
the wings to droop, thus causing the
loss of vitality in the chick, which in a
vast majority of cases, means that the
| little fellow will ultimately die.
So general has been this complaint for
several years that the various poultry
| experts, or rather persons of authority
on the ailments of the fowl kingdom,
have been led TO make many expert
ments in an effort to learn the real cause
for this condition and to perfect a rem
edy for the same.
This, like all other ailments peculiar
to the fowl kingdom, has many forms
treatment-some of which may possibly
be good, while others are worth but lit
tie. l have read the advice of many
persons on the possibility of a cure for
the ailment commonly referred to as
dropping wings. Some persons advocate
the pulling of the wing feathers, and
particularly the larger ones, as soon as
the chick begins to show signs of drOopi.
ness. Others will advocate the substi-
tuition Of milk as a drink in place of
water when the chick shows signs of
drOopy wings, this as preventative of
further trouble. Then there are those
that will tell you to clip the wings, in |
an effort to tighten the weight, as |
means of preventing the trouble, and |
the saving of the chicks life. The wing |
clippers remedy is somewhat similar to /
that of those advising the pulling of the
feathers. They claim, however. that
pulling Injuries the sockets from which 1
the feathers put out.
| am not a believer in the pulling or
process as a means of cure for
the trouble. l do not wish to be classed
as critic of either of the above named
but l fail to see what advan-
tage is gained therefrom. | believe that
there is real cause for the dropping of
the wings other than being the fault of
heavy feathers.
In the solution of this perplexing prob {
EN- | wish to ask your forbearance / ,
while it is viewed from slightly differ /
snt angle from any already advanced. I
The question to first determine, before
proper solution or remedy can be Of !
cred, is whether or not the fault lies \
n the rapid growth of the wing feath- {
RS or whether something else is wrong. 4
l believe the last to be true. In other a
words, is it not just possible that the il
'ody fails to develop in equal proportion S
o that of the wings 1t is not at all b
easonable to suppose that the growth v
I the wings should so weaken the chick c
s to cause it to die. On the other hand, b
axe the chick whose wings grow very v
apidly, clip or pull them and then watch
that develops. You will find that the
ondition of the chick will constantly
row worse, until it topples over dead. P
have never seen a single case where
ne clipping or pulling of the wings ever v
aved one of the little fellows that had Fl
revleusly developed droopiness, and s,
us IN my opinion, is sufficient proof of m
le fallacy of the treatment. a
The failure of this so-called remedy tr
u this condition is also further proof,
ME, that the cause for the droopiness in
not the-result of the rapid growth of fl
Ie wings, but is of more deep seated II
lture, and this being the case, it re- D,
lires an entirely different treatment W
an is generally advanced by many of til
e sO-called authorities. Mind YOU, l st
n not finding fault with the methods va
any individual, nor do / profess to re
low all about this or any other condi- sp
IN relative to the welfare of the feath- III
ed kingdom, but / do believe that the on
use for the drOopiness in chicks is due tn
the lack of growth and development
the body and its failure to keep pace
tn that of the wings.
Droopy chicks are a menace to any
eeder and should not be tolerated. du
eir production can invariably be traced en-
incorrect methods employed by the IN
eeder, and fail to see any advantage pr
be gained in clipping the wings as a CO..
.ans of cure or to overcome the trou- pr
!. The attempt to save the life of ad
ck so affected is, after all, but WI
ste of time and trouble. Nine out Of eX
cry ten that develop this trouble die. res
] those that are fortunate enough to Dir
ape death, never amount to much in tha
er life. low
f any bird, as a chick, is unable to
Ty its wings in a normal position, nv I
gment is that it would be far more nrc
'fitable tp kill or dispose Of it, rather to
n to take the time and trouble in at ma
lpting to faise it-for if you are sue rail
sful, it will be a drone on your hands is !
hindrance to profit. of
n order to back up my statement vor
{ the cause for the development of
wings in chicks is not due to the
ght Of the rapid Growth Of the feath- "
but to the failure of the body to be
elp equally as rapidly, thus giving Du,
chick sufficient strength to support the
wings in their usual or normal posi- non
J, ] would ask that you make a com
son as a test. Take one of the little
ows that is afflicted with the trouble b
sin mentioned, also one that carries
E.T.I = ~ 4