The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-09
Production of Eggs Depends
on Good Health of Chickens
Many Common Diseases Can
Be Quickly Cured by
Using Simple Methods.

some idea of fowl health" No mat
ter how careful we may be in the
] care of our birds. sickness is likely ia
! present itself. AS with the human
species. fowls are subject to a great
many ailments. Fortunately. most OF
them are more or less trif1ing, pro-
viding they are taken in time, and
will respond quickly to simple treat
| ment. The point is for the poultry
man to be able to detect the sick bird
| at a glance, diagnose the ailment, and
prescribe for 1t accordingly.
The diagnosis may be made from
| external symptoms. or 1t may neces-
| state killing the bird and performing
| an autopsy. The examination may
| reveal some slight irregnlarity which
can be attributed to acknowledgement
| in feeding or housing. in which case
the error should be corrected; or 1t
| may show that germs Of some vru-
lent disease have gained a foothold,
| and something must be done and done
quickly. to safeguard the rest of the
| flock. DO not be afraid to sacrifice
| a bird or two in order to ascertain the
| cause of malady. or to prevent the
spread OF contagion. Drastic steps are
sometimes necessary for the safety Of
the rest Of the flock which is the chief
consideration.
Indications Of Sickness.
Experienced poultrymen make it a
practice to note the condition of every
bird every day. Where fowls are
raised in large numbers, this sounds
like a gigantic task, but it is not so
difficult as 1t seems. Anyone accus-
toned to being around poultry can dis
tinguish at a glance the fowl that is
out of sorts.
In the early morning. at feeding
times and when the birds go to roost
it is a simple matter to detect the fowl
that is out of condition. II a bird re-
!nasns IN me -IefUhts m the morning,
after all the other birds have left,
or ii it fails to return to roost at
night, and instead stands in some
corner of the building there is some
thing wrong with it. If it is disin-
terested in food, if it mopes around
with ruffled feathers and head drawn
close to its body. if it is sluggish in
away slowly when approached. 1t is
not in normal health. A fowl in good
condition Is anxious to leave the perch
in the morning. alert and active, keen
for its food and moves about with a
free gait. Its movements and con-
duet are in such sharp contrast to the
sick bird that the latter is almost al
ways conspicuous.
1t should be borne in mind, however,
that while the foregoing manifesto
tons are indications of illness, they
do not necessarily explain the nature
of the complaint. To ascertain the
exast nature of the trouble, the bird
must be caught and closely examined.
Hence the advice-to isolate the sick
bird at once.
In this article we will take up some
of the ills that can be told at a glance
No attempt will be made to furnish a
technical description of them, merely
to outline the general symptoms. their
causes, and simple treatments.
Bundle foot Is one of the minor
ailments. and common one where
hard floors are used. A calIous, or
corn. forms on the bottom of the foot
and between the toes. which later be-
comes a painful swelling attended by
alterations. II is caused by the birds
jumping from perches that are too
high. or from bruises and irritations
by splinters. A fowl so affected will
limp and stand on one foot.
Painting with tincture of iodine will
dissipate the callous. II taken in the
early stages; but II it has liberated,
open the ulcer, remove any pns
cleanse the wound with an antiseptic,
and then bind the foot in an applica-
ton or carbolated vaseline.
Crop Bound.
Crop bound is hard and swollen
condition of the crop, caused by an
obstruction to the gullet from the crop,
or by gorging large quantities of grain
which swell and ferment. The fowl is
droopy: the comb and head are pur-
plish In color and sour-smelling
liquid runs from the mouth. Give cas-
tor oil or a large dose of olive oil:
knead the crop with the fingers until
1t becomes soft under the effects of
the oil, and then hold the bird head
downward and try to empty the con-
tents of the crop.
Timber neck is partial loss of con-
troll of the muscles of the neck, and Is
generally caused by eating putrid ami
NAL matter. A fowl so afflicted can
not hold its head upright. but twists it
around from side to side and staggers
about drunkenly. The disease is not
though very often It In
stubborn to cure. The point to re-
member is this: The conditions that
gave 1t to one fowl are likely to give
it to the rest of the flock. so be care
fnl to ascertain the cause. and remove |
it at once.
A pill of asafetida night and morn