FEATHER EATING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 26 September 1908, Page 1

FEATHER EATING.

Tho subject of feather eating is again brought up by a western correspondent, who asks: — "Can you tell me the cause of my White Leghorns picking out the feathers of -one another and leaving them nearly bare? I keep rock sulphur iii their water tin, and they- have .a large run with very fair picking." We have to candidly admit that we cannot say the cause, and would like to hear of anyone who could. Feather-eating is ascribed to a variety of causes; but, despite all that has been written and said on the subject, the real root of the evil has never, to our mind, been satisfactorily exposed. Our view is that it is more than anything else a morbid habit, accidentally acquired. This opinion is strengthened by the fact that there have been several instances of feather-eating among the pens in the laying competitions at the Hawkesbury College — never more than one in a year, however. When it is considered 1 that the whole 100 pens are treated exactly alike, it U difficult to see that- it could be due to a deficiency in diet. The offendors have all been birds that were sent to the college in good health, and acquired the habit there. The worst case was among a pen that averaged over 200 eggs each year, so that there was not much wrong with their bodily condition. The most generally accepted theory is that it is prompted by the "lack of something in the fowl's food, and for which they get a craving. It will be admitted that it would be difficult to find a man with a wider practical experience in poultry matters than the late Mr Harold Cadell. Discussing this question with us a couple of days before his death, he was emphatic in expressing tho opinion that the only cure, or rather preventive, for feather-eating,, was salt. "Give your fowls salt regu. larly," he said, "'and you will never have a feather-eater." That has been our experience, but we cannot accept it as conclusive, for the simple reason that it may have been just out of luck to have never struck a feather-eater. If the salt cure fails, the followtnp which appealed in "Poultry" (Eng.) pome years ago, thould be worth trying. "Fiowovs of sulphur has been mucli used in France ar. a mediiine for feathci -eating, and, it is stated, with much success. Tho quantity is three teaspoonf jls with enough soft food for 24 fowls daily. If this scours them reduce the quantity or give it every second day Another very excellent reme-dy is to give liquid sulphur, prepared as follows :— Put three or foul lumps of fresh burnt lime, the size of ee.es, into an iron pot, slack tho lime with boiling water, then stir into t-hr lim<! about 6oz. of -flowers of sulphur, rnd gradually' add two quarts of boiling water, stirring all the time; boil gontly fo.- an hour or so ; pour off the clear liquor which will be the colour of dark brandy), bottle and cork well. A teaspoonful to every six hens, put int<~ the water used for mixing the mash, if the best way to give it. Allowed daily, or twice a week, it will kep the towls plumage in good condition, and soon put a stop to feather-eating.— "Sydney Daily Telegraph."