Diseases of the Limbs.—Cramp in young chicken from exposure to cold and damp is very fatal to early hatches, it can be prevented only by warmth and dryness.
Leg weakness, which is most frequent in rapidly growing chicken and young birds, particularly Cochins, arises from a disproportion between the weight and strength of the animal, the bird in consequence, sinks down upon its hocks; I have found four or five grains of citrate of iron given daily in meal successful in every case in which I have employed it.
Inflammation of the feet, closely resembling gout, I have seen in many cases, particularly in Cochins; the feet become very hot and swell. One grain of calomel at night and three drops of colchicum wine twice a day, I have found afford considerable relief.
The bumble foot of Dorkings, is a swelling occurring in the ball of the foot, not attended with heat, but followed by ulceration and a diseased growth. I have found that it may, to a great degree, be prevented by having the perches broad and low, not above four feet in height, as the disease is evidently set up in many cases, and increased in all, by the violence with which the heavy birds descend to the ground; from the low vitality of the parts affected, I have found that no treatment is attended with any beneficial results.
Broken wings are best treated by tying the points of the quill feathers together in a natural position and keeping the bird in an empty place, where there is no perch to tempt it to fly. Broken legs may be bandaged round by strips of stout brown paper soaked in white of egg well beaten up with a fork, the leg should be kept steady by two splints of wood until the paper has become dry, when it will be found sufficiently firm to remain secure if wound round with a turn or two of thread.
Diseases of the Brain are not unfrequent in overfed fowls, apoplexy being the most frequent. The birds affected fall suddenly from their perches and are found dead. Little can be done in the way of cure; much in the way of prevention, by abstaining from unnatural food; in an actual attack, if the bird is seen before death, it may be bled by opening the vein on the under side of the wing, but the chances of recovery are but small. Paralysis also arises from the same cause. In vertigo, which depends on an undue determination of blood to the brain, the fowls run round and round or stagger about; letting a stream of cold water on the head immediately relieves, this should be followed by a grain of calomel or ten of jalap, in severe cases it may be necessary to open a vein.
In most of the older poultry books certain nostrums, as rue and butter, are constantly recommended; rue is a violent irritating stimulant, and I am not aware of any disease affecting fowls in which its use is at all likely to be productive of good effects.
King, Printer, 63, Queen Street, Cheapside.