The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-09-07
Making Money
On the Farm
XIII. Poultry Parasites
and Diseases
BY G. v. GREGORY.
Author of ''tlOme Course In Modern
Agriculture"
Copyright. 1903. by American Press
Association

~ HE most discouraging thing
about the poultry business is
the great number of parasites
and ailments which affect the
flock. Unless special precautions are
taken the fowls are continually dying
from one cause or another, and the
profits shrink correspondingly. Most
of these troubles are easily prevent
able If a little care Is taken. One OF
the most important considerations Is
cleanliness. The house should be
cleaned out frequently and sprinkfed
with quicklime or some disinfectant.
Lime scattered about the yards also
helps. The coops and smaller build
ngs should be moved from place to
place frequently Whitewash should
oe used literally everywhere. One of
the best kinds of whitewash is made
according to what is known as the
government formula, as follows:
Slack half q bushel of lime In boil
ing water Strain and add a peck of
salt that has been dissolved in warm
water three pounds Of ground rice
boiled to a thin paste, one-half pound
powdered Spanish whiting, one pound
of glue dissolved in warm water. Mix
these well ard then let the mixture
stand for several days. Heat before
using and apply hot
Importance Of Pure Water.
One important means Of keeping
fowls healthy and one that is often
neglected is giving them a constant
supply of pure water. Because fowls
do not require water in as large guam
titles as other animals 1t is often
thought that they can get along with
out any except what they get in pud-
dies in the barnyard They will drink
such water If they can get no other,
but it is just as bad for their health
as 1t would be for yours. This Is a
matter which is too often overlooked,
and poultry raising for profit becomes
impossible on that account.
Water put out in open troughs soon
becomes warm ard Girty. and If there
should happen to be a contagious dis
ease In the flock it will be rapidly
spread through the water. A common
hog waterer attached to barrel on
the shady side of the poultry house is
one of the best ways Of supplying wa
ter If filled once a week or so no
further attention Is needed. A jug
or large bottle Of water inverted over
a shallow pan in such a manner that
the opening is just covered by the
water in the pan makes good drink
ing fountain. The water will run
down into the pan as fast as it Is used.
There are several types Of metal foun-
tains on the market which work on
this same principle. Most of them are
cheap and satisfactory.
A considerable factor In causing dis
ease among fowls is improper feeding.
Overlooking and feeding too much soft
food are the causes of large percentage
of the deaths among young chicks.
In older fowls the corn ration that Is
SO often the sole food is frequently
the cause of digestive and other trou-
bles. A variety of foods judiciously
fed will do much to keep the fowls
healthy.
Another cause of disease in unhealthy
surroundings. Low, damp poultry
yards, where the water stands in pud-
dies for days after each rain, are pro
life sources Of poultry troubles. Have
the poultry house high and dry. If a
dry yard cannot be obtained in any
other way grade it up little and cover
it with gravel.
Strong Vitality Necessary.
Many of the diseases to which poul-
try is subject are due to inherited
weakness Experiments have proved
that vitality and vigor are readily
transmitted from parent to offspring.
In an experiment at the Cornell sta
ton two pens Of fowls were selected.
One had especially strong vitality, and