DISEASES IN FOWLS, AND HOW TO CURE THEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1630, 26 August 1871, Page 4

DISEASES IN FOWLS, AND HOW TO CURE THEM.

By far the greater proportion of poultry diseases arise either from cold and wet, or neglect in preserving cleanliness — often both combined. It should be noted, also, that the first symptom of nearly all such diseases is diarrhoea, which we have observed usually manifests itself in even roup, before any disoharge of the nostrils is perceptible. At this stage much evil may be warded off. Whenever a fowl hangs its wings and looks drooping, let it be soon at once v/hether it appears purged, and, if so, give immediately, in a tablespoonful of warm water, a tnblespoonful of strong brandy saturated with camphor. Repeat this next morning, and in most cases the disease, whatever it is, will be checked — care being of course taken to give the invalid warmth and shelter, with ale in its food. If the evacuation continues, administer the stronger prescription given for diarrhoea.

Gapes is a fatal disease of chickens, and which we believe infectious ; it is, at all events, epidemic Unless, perhaps, thus communicated by others, it never occurs, except where there has been foul water, exposure to wet, and want of nourishing food. The disease consists — at least, so far as actual symptoms extend — in a number of small worms which infest the windpipe, and cause the poor chicken to gasp for breath. If taken early, it will be sufficient to give, every day, a morsel of camphor, the size of a grain of wheat, and to put camphor in the drinking water, or a little turpentine may be given daily in meal, taking care, of course, that the deficiencies in diet and shelter be amended, In fully developed cases, the worms must be removed by introducing a loop of horse-hair into the trachea, and turning round during withdrawal — the operation to be repeated several times, till all the worms appear to be extracted. A feather, stripped almost up to the top, may be used instead of the horse-hair. The frequent occurrence of gapes is a disgrace to any poultry yard.

Loss of feathers is always caused either by want of green food, or having no dustbath. Let these wants, therefore, be properly supplied, removing the fowls, if possible, to get a grass run. For local application, Mr Tegetmeier recommends mercurial ointment, but we ourselves prefer an wnguent composed of sulphur and creosote. Nothing, however, -will bring back the feathers before the next moult.

Roap is always caused by wet, or very cold winds. It begins with a common cold, and terminates in an offensive discharge from the nostrils and eyes, and often hanging in froth about those organs. It is most highly contagious, the disease being, as we believe, communicated by the sickly fowl's beak contaminating the drinking water ; therefore let all fowls affected by it be at once put by themselves and have a separate water-vessel. Keep them warm, and feed with meal only, mixed with hot ale instead of water. Treatment is, to feed on oatmeal mixed with ale, and green food unlimited, washing the head with tepid water, and giving daily one grain sulphate of copper. We prefer the above. Roup runs its course rapidly, and in a week the bird will be either almost well, or so nearly dead that it had better be killed at once. It is the worst disease of poultry, and to he dreaded accordingly ; fortunately, the symptoms are specific, and the treatment equally so. — American Stock Journal.