POULTRY—THE COMB IN HEALTH AND DISEASE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1927, 28 April 1880, Page 4

POULTRY—THE COMB IN HEALTH AND DISEASE.

The following is taken from the “ American Poultry Journal”:— It is the easiest thing in the world, when you know how ’tis done, to tell when your fowls are in ill-health, oven in the incipient stages of any disease or ailment, if you but examine your flock carefully. The comb of each fowl is a true index to the working of their systems. If they be in ill-health, the comb will lose color, and will become far loss firm in texture ; as the malady increases the color decreases, till a very sick bird will show a comb almost devoid of scarlet colour, being of a livid dull crimson, or else pale or ashy appearance. If the cholera or any disease should come into the flock, carefully examine the combs of each bird morning and night, and all those which are wanting in that bright rich colour which denotes perfect health, remove at once from the flcckto aplaoa remote, where they should be at once put under medical treatment. Tho comb of tho fowl is honest index of the true inwardness, and should daily be consulted by the fancier who values the health and well-being of his flock. Look at tho comb of a laying hen or pullet. She is in tho height of health and strength, and carries her unfailing sign of hoahhfulness on her head in the .shape of a blood-red, bright, and full comb. A vigorous cock or cockerel will carry tho same sign, though not perhaps in so eminent a degree as his harem.