The Veterinarian Part 31

Withhold all food for at least eighteen hours; then feed stale bread moistened with boiled milk every three hours. When they are three or four days old, feed rolled oats, ground corn moistened with pure water, finely chopped meat and boiled vegetables. Feed them often and you will be well repaid by their rapid growth, strength, and the low death rate.

After they reach the age of one week or ten days, watch them closely and regulate their feed to their apparent needs.

INCOMPLETE EGG

(Abortion)

CAUSE: Irritation of the oviduct; improper secretion of alb.u.men or internal egg-producing material.

TREATMENT: Careful feeding will overcome this condition. Warm wheat bran mashes, ground bone, beef sc.r.a.ps, all tend to allay the irritations of the oviduct and stimulate the secretions of alb.u.men.

JAUNDICE

CAUSE: Obstruction of the bile duct, due to rich, nitrogenous food and insufficient exercise.

SYMPTOMS: Disease is not easily detected. The yellow color of the wattles and comb is the first symptom; the appet.i.te is variable, the feathers appear rough and dry, the head is retracted, and the bird finally dies owing to the absorption of bile in the blood.

TREATMENT: Change food. Feed upon a vegetable diet, also give one grain of Calomel, which is particularly useful in a case of sluggish liver in poultry. Also give one grain of Pulv. Gentian Root and one grain of Bicarbonate of Soda, twice daily in feed.

MANGE

(Scabies of the Body)

CAUSE: Due to a parasite that resembles the mite.

SYMPTOMS: When the affected bird is closely examined large quant.i.ties of scales or scabs are found in the soft feathers. The appet.i.te is poor; the bird walks slowly about showing signs of uneasiness. If the disease is allowed to run its course, the bird grows weak and eventually dies.

The disease is easily transmitted from one bird to another and should be treated without delay.

TREATMENT: Disinfect roost, coops and pens with undiluted Crude Carbolic Acid. Apply to the irritations that present themselves on the body of the birds: Sulphur Ointment twice a week and feed good nouris.h.i.+ng food as wheat bran mashes and vegetables.

PIP

(Inflammation of the Mouth)

CAUSE: Irritations, injuries, or micro-organisms. It is sometimes caused by nothing more than a dry condition of the mucous membrane due to the bird breathing through the mouth when suffering from respiratory diseases.

SYMPTOMS: Dryness of the mucous membrane of the mouth; especially the part covering the tongue, which becomes hard and ragged, forming rough edges along its sides. These dried portions become loose and partially detached from the tongue, interfering with its movements and causing more or less pain and annoyance.

TREATMENT: Do not forcibly detach these pieces, but a.s.sist nature to remove them. This can be accomplished by mixing Glycerine and Water, equal parts, and dropping into the mouth with an ordinary syringe or dropper. It is advisable to add Boracic Acid, one teaspoonful to every gallon of drinking water, which will prevent the entrance of parasites into the blood.

RED MITE

CAUSE: These grow spontaneously in favorable surroundings, as the interior of poultry houses and brooders containing numerous cracks and crevices.

SYMPTOMS: This mite is a blood-sucker; irritates the skin and sometimes causes sores to form on the body of the chick. The birds grow stupid and weak and die rapidly if not properly treated. Older fowls withstand the irritation of mites much longer, but do not thrive, or lay regularly, and will finally die if the insects become too numerous. The insect may be transmitted to horses, cattle, and even to man.

TREATMENT: Paint the roosts and spray the interior of the coops and runs with Crude Carbolic Acid, undiluted, being very careful that the solution reaches the bottoms of the cracks and crevices. Also paint the interior of brooders with the same solution.

RHEUMATISM

(Leg Weakness--Gout--Paralysis)

CAUSE: Damp coops and pens, lack of ventilation and improper food.

SYMPTOMS: Fowl refuses to stand or walk, and on examination, the legs are found to be swollen and painful, especially about the joints. In some cases suppuration of the joints takes place and they become open running sores. The bone finally becomes diseased and the fowl dies.

TREATMENT: Preventive measures are first to be considered. See that the coops and pens are clean and dry. Avoid drafts. Feed vegetables, also wheat bran mashes. Give internally Salicylic Acid, one-half grain, twice daily. When the legs are swollen and sore apply Camphorated Ointment once or twice daily.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Photograph of chicken.]

PRIZE WINNING COLUMBIAN WYANDOTTE c.o.c.k.

SCALY LEG

(Scabies)

CAUSE: Due to a mite that burrows under the scales of the leg.

SYMPTOMS: White, scaly-looking scabs form about the upper part of the foot. The feet and legs become swollen and painful as the disease progresses and if not checked will result in lameness, inflammation of the joints, and the toes may slough off. Great care is necessary as the disease is very easily transmitted from one bird to another.

TREATMENT: Use boiling water or Crude Carbolic Acid, undiluted, on the perches. Wash the feet and legs with warm water and soft soap. Dry well and apply Carbolated Ointment. Repeat the above treatment every other day for a week.

SORE MOUTH

(Aphtha; Thrush)

CAUSE: A vegetable parasite called Oidium Albicans.

SYMPTOMS: Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the mouth, throat, gullet and crop, which finally terminates in white ulcerations. Other symptoms are swelling of the head, poor appet.i.te and a rapid loss in weight and strength.

TREATMENT: Isolate the sick from the healthy fowls. Give as much sunlight as possible, feed nouris.h.i.+ng food, such as warm oatmeal mashes, kale, potatoes, etc. Add one grain each of Chlorate of Potash and Boracic Acid to a tablespoonful of water and give three or four times a day or oftener if they will drink it. A good disinfectant must be used to prevent the disease from spreading and I would recommend the use of undiluted Crude Carbolic Acid about the coops and poultry runs.