Poultry Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 July 1910, Page 4

Poultry Notes.

FOR FANCIERS. SOME DISEASES AND REMEDIES. From the" Feathered World" I call the appended particulars concerning some diseases prevalent flit this season:— Colds.-This is a very common complaint in nearly fvery young 'fancier's yards, "especially in winter, and like colds in human beings there is no doubt that colds in 'poultry are contagious, and very often go r.ii*ht througli the yards, The chid' symptom is ii little sneezing and watery discbarge from the nostrils, or a 'liittlo frotbiniess at the corner of the eye. When these symptQins u-o noticed, the face, eyos and nostrils should bo sponged' wiHfo hot water, t*> wliich .a tablespoon of vineem- has been added, and to the drinking water add a few drops o essence .of camphor, and this well keep the cold in check and prevent it spreadling untdl proper roivp powder can be obtained for the dnnvking water, which is the most xeliaible and easily administered remedy. Cramp or Rheumatism.—Tins may be due to cold or wet runs, especially where the soil is of clayey nature. The best demedy is to immerse- the bird's legs morning and nio-ht in water as hot as you can -bear your finger in. for a minute or two, and to this should .be added a small handful of common washing soda. Hold the legs in this for ten miinwtes, then wipe thoroughly dry, and rub 'Well in some good embrocation, and keep the .bird in a hned basket or a soft bod of dry hay. Two od three days of this treatment

will iwunlly cure the worst cases. Diphtheria (Diphtheritic Roup).— Symptoms: A skin-like growth in the mouth or throat, or yellowish cheesy growths «it the corner of the mouth, under the tongue, and at the entrance of Ithe windpipe. In severe cases the slit in the roof ot tho fowl's mouth is the seat of this deposit. In young chickens, even at a fortnight old, it can ue distinguished l>y filmy cream or neadly white membranes under the tongue. Treatment: Diphtheria in all forms is highly contagious, and dl patients'should be isolated. It should be bornie in mind that this can be carried from pen to pen by th'c clothing. Diphtheritic cases in adult fowls should be treated , by having double dosos of roup powder in their drinking wa-ted, and a teaspoonful of sulphur should be added to the soft food of every throe birds. The disease win be cured in about

two wepks, according to the severity of the complaint. It is innpoiTtan/t ,to disinfect the pons lately occupied toy diphtheritic stock, and the houses or coops should be washed out with hot lime, to which some carbolic or Joyce's fluid has been added, and all nesting materials should be destroyed. The cKeesy matter should always be removed and resulting sores dusted with dry ronp nowdor. Frost Bite.—Usually associated .with large-combed birds, such as Miuorcas and Leghorns. Symptoms : The spikes of the comb, especially «i.t the tips, turn dusty or livid, afterwards quite black, and if neglected the tips of the spikes will ultimately drop off. One of the best remedies is to make a.u ointment of the -following: Lard 20z., quinine loz, kerosene 3oz, melt and mix together. This should >be well rubbed on the parts affected. To prevent frostbite it is a good plan to apply the above to the combs each night after -the birds bare gone to roost during severe frost. Going Light (Consumption)

Symptoms: A (bright red com!), ■oupled with a good appetite, yet birds daily get poorer in condiftioni. [n its early stages this disease is practically curable, as the bird's :leath can be averted for a year or two, but when far gone there is no known cure. Over-shown birds frequently show this tendency, but prompt and thorough theatment will generally stave off the evil _ day. Prize birds nre very liable to it, the result of i nib reeding. Treatment: Generous feeding, oatmeal porridge, bread and milk, biscuit meal scalded with milk, a, fair supply of cooked fat mealt. a few whole groats or white. Canadian peas, and noiw nd then a- little hempseed; all these, would Ive most suitable, so would "tit-bits" from the house. Chemical food in the drinking water is r>f groat service. Morning and night give half a iteaspoonful each of chemical food and cod liver oil, and as soon as possible obtain some going light pills. Pneumonia (Inflammation of the Lungs).—Symptoms : Cough, si mil auto bronchitis, gasping of paiiiting or breath. Very rapid broth ing, with neck outstretched. Cause: Exposure to wet, suddien change in weather, etc. Treatment: Keep the bird in a warm room, near to a. fi.ro, and protected from any draughts. Give every two hours two drops of B.P. tincture of potash an two tablespoon! ills of warm water, or thi'ee drops of ipecacuanha wino in two teaspoonfuls of warm 'Water hour urit.il releaved. Feed on warm bread aiwl milk. Eoup is an offensive discharge from the nostrils. In the caste of colds, the watery disciharge is colourless ; with roup the smell is unmistakable. In bad cases the head and face become swollen, especially round land titidier the eyes, duo to the thickened mucus, and there is a great danger of this mucuc 'blocking the throat. Rattling in the throat, another phase of roup, is due to the presence of roupy mucus in the windpipe. Treatment: Whether ono or a whole flock of 'birds is affected they should be kept in dry warm comfortable quarters, an<l the cure of greatly accelerated by the birds, being keplb off the dlanip grass in the early mornings. When only a few are affected it is a simple mntter to isolate them. As in the case of colds, the in'fcotion is spread largely by all the birds drinking from one water vessel, therefore it is of great importance !that the medicine should he given in the drinking water. Given in this Way tlfo birds bathe their .mouths and throats every time, they drink, which, if given in time, Trill prevent the formation of ulcerous It was from personal experience of pill-giving for roup that led me to think out a more speedy way of dealing with a large flock of birds, hence the drinking water roup cure, which not only quickly cures, hurt also prevents the disease spreading.