Roup
Almost all forms of chronic catarrh in fowls go by the name of roup. It usually begins as a severe cold, caused by exposure to cold, wet and damp. There is discharge from the nostrils, at first of thin mucus, and which soon becomes opaque, and even offensive, and the entire cavity of the nose may become filled up; froth and mucus fill the inner angle of the eye, the lids are swelled and often the eye-ball quite concealed, and in severe cases the entire face is considerably swelled. It is said to be contagious, but is probably only so in extremely virulent cases. But the fact that a flock of fowls are exposed to similar disease-making conditions, and that many are taken nearly at the same time, would countenance the idea of its contagious character. The causes of the disease should be avoided by providing shelter for chickens during the cold, chilly, fall nights, and not permitting them to wander around without feed in the cold, raw mornings. A plentiful supply of nourishing food and comfortable shelter when sudden cold changes of weather occur, will do much to prevent the appearance of this disease and the consequent loss. The iron and cider with the food will be useful, and onions cut up fine and mixed in the soft feed, is also an invaluable agent for fowls affected with any form of roup. The A.A., is the proper remedy, two or three doses at first, during the inflammatory stage. Then the C.C., is the proper remedy, and may be relied upon. Give it as often as three, or even four times per day, in extreme cases. Of course the severe cases should be well housed, have warm and dry lodgings, free from exposure to open windows and cold drafts of air, as the bird is liable to new chill from fresh exposure. Washing the head and syringing out the nose, and washing the throat with salt and vinegar, or even with water and castile soap, is rarely necessary and really of very little consequence. As the catarrh passes off, the secretions will become healthy and natural, and all these discharges disappear.
Soft Eggs
May be a sign of over-feeding, but are more commonly from the want of material of which to form the shell—lime, starch, sulphur, etc. The flock should have an occasional feed of mashed potatoes and lime; old mortar; burnt oyster shells, pounded up, should be placed in reach. An occasional dose of J.K., will be beneficial.
White Diarrhea
This disease probably causes more loss among newly hatched chicks than all other diseases combined. It attacks chicks when from 1 to 3 weeks old, and usually when the chicks are over 3 weeks old they are safe from it.
White Diarrhea is caused by a germ, and when a flock have this disease, it will be found that some of the chicks were born with this disease and gave it to the others.
When a flock of chicks have this disease, most of them will die, but a few live through, and it is found that these few who live through are the ones that carry the disease. The germs in this case resides in the ovaries and are in every egg such a hen lays. The chicks hatched from these eggs develop the disease and communicate it to the others.
Symptoms.—The chicks appear stupid and remain under the hen most of the time as if cold; they do not run around with the others but remain by themselves. The feathers are rough and the wings droop. They lose weight and eat little or nothing. A white diarrhea appears from which the disease gets its name; this is usually creamy, but sometimes there is a little brown in it. This discharge is sticky and sometimes even plugs up the vent. The chick will often utter a shrill cry, apparently of pain when voiding.
Treatment.—No satisfactory cure has yet been found for this disease and we must rely on prevention.