ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 400, 14 July 1928, Page 26

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Perplexed, Grey Lynn.—From the details you give us we conclude that your bird died from acute inflammation of the crop, stomach and bowels, due to phosphorous poisoning. Have you been putting down any rat poison?

Swanson. The loss of feathers from the backs of the birds may be due, either to the male bird, if one is kept, or to mites. In either case the conditions may not have occurred previously with your stock. If there is a male bird in the pen the cause is most likely in this direction; if not, then it would be as well to disinfect the premises. The feathers will not grow until the bird moults. May 1 explain that “mites” are not insects; some people are very annoyed if these things are suggested. Believe me, they cast no reflection on the management, and I have found them in spotlessly clean places—and expect to do so, when they can be distributed in many ways beyond the control of the poultrykeeper. The old enemy, the rat, can and does, distribute some of these things. You will probably examine the fowls and find them perfectly clean, and think I am mistaken, but mites—this mite—is not readily observed to unassisted sight. A little boric ointment smeared about the base of the feathers surrounding