Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-10
THE POULTRY YARD
ScALY LEGS-cAUSE AND CURE
BY ED WEBER

Probably nothing gives a more I'M
slightly appearance TO the fowl than
| scaly legs. Every poultrykeeper is ia
miliar with the amorphous incrusta-
tons which in severe cases cause an
abnormal development in the thickness
Of the legs, totally spelling their ap-
| pearance.
This condition, known as scaly leg,
is caused by a small mite which. bur
rowing underneath the scales Of the
leg. breeds and multiplies rapidly. the
| increasing mass Of parasitic life fore
ing the scales outward The contagious
nature of the disease, owing to the
facility with which the mites can be
transferred from one foot to another,
renders it necessary either to cure or
kill the first victim in order to prevent
an epidemic. srst r.
It's Cause.
| Exactly how the parasite is intro
| duced into a poultry yard where scaly
| leg has hitherto been unknown can not
be fathomed: but dirt. damp and un-
sanitary unnatural conditions may be
responsible for It's introduction. /
have no doubt, however, that in num-
erous instances it is brought with a |
>
germs Of the disease lying dormant.
| Broody hens, collected indiscriminately
often lead to its introduction, and for
this reason 1t is always advisable be-
fore purchasing broodies to examine |
them very carefully for any signs OF
scaly legs which in its incipient stage. !
can be recognized by yellowish pow |
der,- deposit on the sides of the legs, |
and In the interstices formed by tho
scales
Chickens Matched by a brocdy hen
suffering from scaly, leg invariably |
catch the same abnormal!ty. Many |
persons have conceived the idea rat |
scaly leg is an infsllible sign of ad- |
vancing years but this is not so, for
young birds are often attacked.
The Prevention.
Prevention of the disease offers no
great difficulties, but takes up some |
portion Of that very valuable COM
modify to the busy poultrykeeper. i. e.,
time An occasional greasing with |
vaseline is all that Is necessary to keep |
the legs and feet in good condition. |
but on an establishment where the |
number Of birds kept is large this reg !
ular anointment Of every individual
bird is out of the question, and in |
such case contrary to the teaching |
of the wise saw, prevention, owing to |
the time and trouble involved, would
be worse than the cure.
Therefore, where the question of IN
dividual treatment for all and sundry |
can not be entertained, any birds in
tended for exhibition must be selected, |
and their legs frequently and regularly |
anointed so as to prevent any posi- |
bility Of scaly leg arising al the lime |
when they are intended to grace :he |
show coop.
Some Cures Outlined.
Now to come TO me most important |
part Of this disagreeable subject, the |
cure Of scaly leg. For the convenience |
OF those who would like to try them, 7
will here briefly outline the methods |
which have been, and still are, uni |
versally advocated before dealing with |
the comparatively unknown cure which |
unhesitatingly recommend. The first |
consists Of scrubbng the legs thor |
oughly with a warm solution of soap
and water, and after drying and re-
| moving as much Of the eruptive growth
| as possible, smearing with sulphur
ointment This operation must be re-
peated every night for a week, and il |
at the end Of this period a cure has
not been effected as is very probable |
II the case Is at all severe, the daily |
washing and dressing must be contin-
| ued indefinitely.
The second method is very similar, |
except that instead Of ointment being
| used the legs are soaked in paraffin |
oil. One word Of caution is necessary,
and 1t applies to both methods. In |
| removing the incrustaticns care must
| be taken not to make the legs bleed.
| Both these methods have put to the
test, and as a result Of my experience,
I am not very enthusiastic as to their
merits.
Simplest and Quickest Cure.
The best, the simplest and the quick
est means Of curing scaly leg is to
| plenthully besmear the affected parts
with tar. That is all. There Is no
daily scrubbing with soap and water.
| Let the bird run out as usual for a
week. then examine its legs, and you
] will find that the incrustations are
peeling off and leaving the legs as
clean as possible. In nine cases out
Of ten one application is sufficient. but
| where the disease DIS very severe in
| character. or Of long standing. it may
| be necessary to repeat the opera ii oii.
! This is the method which have founi
| to give the most satisfactory results
] with a minimum amount of trouble.
yas-s. ~ tass'- ts.-sss2s-s