Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-03
Making Money
On the Farm
Kill. Poultry Parasites
and Diseases
By G. v. GREGORY,
Author of "Home Course In Modern
Agriculture"
Copyright. 1909. by American Press
Association
Copyright. 1909. 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 little care is taken. One of
the most important considerations Is
cleanliness The house should be
cleaned out frequently and sprinkled
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
De 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 bushel of lime in boil
ing water. Strain and add peck of
salt that has been dissolved in warm
water. three pounds Of ground rice
boiled to thin paste, one-half pound
powdered Spanish whiting, one pound
of glue dissolved in warm water. Mix
these we'll and 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 constant
supply of pure water. Because fowls
do not require water in as large guam
titles rs other animals it 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 it 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 and dirty, and If there
should happen to be contagious dis
j ease in the flock 1t will be rapidly
!, spread through the water. A common
, hog waterer attached to a barrel on
the shady side Of the poultry house is
I one Of the best ways Of supplying wa
ter If filled once week OF so no
J further attention Is needed. A jug
/ or large bottle Of water inverted over
9 shallow pan in such q manner that
1 the opening is just covered by the
1 water in the pan makes good drink
d ing fountain. The water will rur
g down into the pan as fast as it is used
{, There are several types Of metal foun
tains on the market which work OF
= this same principle. Most Of them ar
II cheap and satisfactory.
II A considerable factor in causing dis
b ease among fowls Is improper feeding
Overlooking and feeding too much sof
n food are the causes Of q largepercentag
q of the deaths among young chicks
d In older fowls the corn ration that i
"a so often the sole food is frequentl.
l. the cause Of digestive and other trou
d bles. A variety of foods judiciousl,
r. fed will do much to keep the fowl
a healthy.
II Another cause Of disease in unhealth,
II surroundings. Low, damp poultr,
o yards. where the water stands in pud
ID dies for days after each rain, are pre-
life sources Of poultry troubles. Hav
n. the poultry house high and dry. II
Il, dry yard cannot be obtained in an
ID other way grade 1t up little and cove
it with gravel.
III Strong Vitality Necessary.
n. Many of the diseases to which pou
~ try Is subject are due to inherite
n. weakness. Experiments have prove
I'd that vitality and vigor are readil
r. transmitted from parent to offsprin
W In an experiment at the Cornell ST
1e Won two pens Of fowls We're selecte,
One had especially strong vitality. ar