The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-02-14
CHICKENS
IN HAWAII
Their Diseases and
Remedies.
The First Bulletin Of Experiment
Station Is Issued by Smith
and Stdewick.

a. follows In regard To the treatment
of sore head and other diseases:
The results of repeated efforts at
raising young chickens in Nuuanu VAL
ley seemed. for a season. to bear out
the theory that the head disease was
caused by mosquito bites. The chicks
Matched during the spring and early
summer of 1898 were given no protec-
ton against mosquito bites at night
and nearly all of them persisted with
the head disease soon after weaving.
while those Matched after July were
covered with a mosquito net over each
brood and escaped the disease. The
fact that the chicks were not affected
when weaned encouraged the BELIEF
that the absence of the hen and her
brooding left the young entirely at the
mercy of the mosquitoes, and that the
latter went straight to their work, for
within a week the heads began to show
the fatal marks. Yet the same chicks,
at their weaving, were of size that
made it impossible for the hen to cover
them all at one time, and they could
be seen late in the evening sitting
about her as though in no further need
of being brooded. In the following
season 1S99) a commodious ana mos
quto-proof brooding house failed ut
terly as preventive ana dispeiled the
mosquito theory.
Season of 1900-Experience had thus
far demonstrated that after the eighth
week the chicks We're not subject to
the head disease, and 1t was believed
that a flock kept in spacious shed
away from spring showers and the
damp ground, with sunlight and fresh
air plentiful might escape the scourge.
Accordingly a flock of &c chicks (hatch-
ed in ApriD six weeks of age were
weaned and placed in a shed 10 Y II feet
in floor space, with lattice front facing
southwest They We're furnished grass
food. meat and grit, together with the
regular grain fare. At night the flock
was divided and placed in two brood
ers, each 2X3 feet floor space and
feet high-ventilated by rat-proot
wire front of half-inch mesh. WITHIN
two weeks there appeared an eruption
on the face and back of almost every
chick in the flock. which soon devel-
oped into scabs. They We're promptly
and perseveringly treated for sore head
with remedy recommended by
Southern Georgia physician and poul-
try keeper-Epsom salts in the drink
ing water and carbolated vaseline on
the affected parts. Notwithstanding,
the scabs spread rapidly over and
around eyes. often closing them. The
sores also appeared on the back ana
wings and on the beak close to the
head Ten of this lot weakened rap
idly and died before the scabs had clos
ed the eyes; in fact many of them had
but slight eruptions when they sue
cumbed. After two weeks of treatment
the 16 remaining chicks began to rally,
the scabs dried and lifted off readily
leaving the skin clear and without
scars. The inner surface of the scab
was covered with white, thread-like
roots, which drew out of the skin when
lifted off With tonic in their drink
for the next few weeks they continued
safely on to maturity. OF the number
saved. three were so badly blinded
with the scabs as to be helpless to
move about or to feed themselves.
These were taken in hand to Kill or
cure the scabs We're bathed in warm
water TO soften them and tincture of
iodin was applied to the surface of the
scabs. After the third application in
thirty-six hours the scabs We're lifted
clear of the skin, leaving 1t somewhat
raw, and the chicks lost no time in
filling their crops and ranging about
The yard for young grass. They re-
covered slowly, but never attained full
size or weight. In the commissioning
flock there We're occasional watery eyes
and in a few there was an accumula-
ton of hard, yellowish matter, of bad
odor, in the ears, which, on being re-
moved, was followed by several like
discharges within "A period of two
months.
A second flock of % chicks (hatched
in May was weaned three days after
they were Matched and placed in the
same pen and brooding boxes (which
had been newly whitewashedD. Within
n week there were lumpy formations
on the beaks of most of them, which
In few days developed into scabs,
and in another week all but two had
died. The two chicks were raised to
maturity, and though healthy, were
dwarfed by the setback occasioned by
the attack In this lot cOntagiOn was
suspected, also too early weaving,
though the mother hen was separated
from the chicks at night only.
1t now became evident that indoor
brooding had no advantages. but many
serious disadvantages by depriving the
chicks of healthful out-of-doOr exercise
and keeping them tender and sensitive
20 weather changes. instead of inurins
them to all weathers from the start.
The third flock of (hatched in June)
was given full liberty from the day
after Matching. Early and late, wet or
dry, these chicks roamed at will, and
at night We're brooded by the mother
hen under a stairway. But, as usual
the eighth week brought the head
disease. following their weaving. Fur
Their nursing was abandoned, and the
disease was allowed TO have its own
way with them for nearly two weeks
By this time the scabs We're well de-
veloped, but the sturdy youngsters had
kept keen appetites, and the eyes,
though affected. We're not blinded, Sc
thdt tnefe seemed prospect or bring
ing them through. A mixture of vine
gar, salt and soda was applied to the
scabs and repeated two days later. The
second application brought 10 the cor
ners of the eyes large, thick scabs of
hardened whitish matter, which We're
easily removed. A day later the scabs
were lifted off. showing the skin clean
and dry. Without tonic or further
treatment this lock reached maturity
safely. showing no check in their
growth.
A fourth flock of Al chicks (hatched
in AugusD was given it's liberty from
the start. and when weaned was put
into the same brooders that had been
used for the earlier fiocks of the>sea-