The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23
NEGLECT MAIN CAUSE
OF POULTRY DISEASE
If Flock Is Well Taken Care OF
Birds Will Keep in Good
Condition.
HOUSES SHOULD BE CLEAN
Sanitary Surroundings Are Big
Factor in Maintenance
Of Health.
ny PROF. r. II. sToNEBURs.

from the volume OF correspondence which
reaches the writer asking for inform alton
relative to poultry diseases, their prevention
and treatment. Il is evident that a great
many OF the regular readers of this series
OF articles are particularly Interested In this
subject. The reason Ia not hard to fnd. In
the majority Of cases the poultry nook
whether on the farm on In the back yard.
IL regarded az an asset. II In expected to
add to the family resources either In the
way Of cash receipts from the sale OF the
products or from use on the homo table
OF the products themselves. when the
fowls are ailing or die from any cause this
income is checked. and the owner. no matter
how negligent he may have been In the past,
Immediately seeks help to enable him to
overcome the trouble.
have often been called to poultry farms
to investigate epidemics OF disease In the
focks where sanitary conditions we're so
bad and the birds so entirely neglected that
II at once became evident that primarily
the manager and not the plant needed a
thorough going over" 1t IL trie that dis
eases will sometimes appear in the poultry
yard In spite of ones best efforts IL Is
equally true that most troubles can be pre-
vented or avoided II proper precautions are
observed. And there can be no argument
on this point. IL Is cheaper to prevent dis
ease than to cure II. The following re-
marks have to do primarily with this latter
phase Of the question:
Between the state OF Astounding he alth and
serious sickness there is a wide gap. There
are degrees OF illness. In some Gases the
trouble is so slight as TO be unobserved by
none save the most experienced. In others
IL II plain to all. But the results are reflected
in the lessening or total stopping OF egg pro-
duction or growth. and this In turn means
a partial or total loss OF profit or an actual
expense. Considering the subject broadly.
the polutryman who neseots to keep his
flock In such physical shape a. to secure
the greatest efficiency under the conditions
maintaining on his plant is a loser. He may
make a profit. but this Is smaller than he
otherwise would secure. and Just TO this ex-
tent he falls short Of securing the income
which he might otherwise have.
As pointed out In a previous contribution
! TO this series. ma Iimum production does
) not necessarily mean maximum profits.
J Tho items OF expensive feed and labor enter
into the matter. But whatever the methods
used. this general principle appiies--vtsor-
Gus stock will pay better than that which is
In poor condition.
Mortality In the flock may be duo TO
several distinct causes. Among them we
might mention poultry enemies Of various
|. kinds. as hawks. skunks. dogs and acct
dents: exposure to extremes OF heat and
cold. These operate Independently OF the
condition OF the birds. and the careful
poultry keeper will anticipate such troubles
and. so far as possible, prevent them.
But the greatest toll Ia taken by disease,
and tho best way TO prevent the nroads OF
disease IA TO keep the birds In state OF
vigorous health. having a high degree of
vital resistance through which they are
enabled TO throw OF most physical Ills This
Il secured only by care in breeding. care In
rearing. care in management weak link
] In this chain may spoil IL all.
Q Health and vigor are inherited just -
surely as arc weakness and tho tendency
toward disease. This indicates the use as
breeding stock OF only such birds have
always been strong and well; those active
' specimens with clear eyes. straight, stout
shanks, straight backs and breasts, stout
curved bills. The crow headed. knock
. kneed dull eyed anemio. listless birds may
have perfect combs and beautiful plunage.
a but they make mighty poor breeders.
Again, the inherited tendency toward
perfect health may be Offset by errors In
inoubating and brooding. In this CON-
necton We wish to repeat and strongly
emphasize tho necessity Of rigid cullinG
during tho entire period Of growth. The
weak, sickly chicks should be killed when
i observed. or at least plainly marked. so they
4 will surely go TO the market whom they reach
A slHc. Du'h prOCCuuTS kiNuo Ohu
the pick Of the flock, tho physically perfect
TO use as future producers and breeders
From these only can consistently good re-
: suits be expected.
Coming TO flock management We ind
cleanliness to be the key to tho situa atom
Tho necessity OF keeping tho plant In ssni-
h tary condition is we'll stated by DR.. Brigham
9 In his popular textbook on poultry hus-
q bandry he says; The actual cause OF do
,tpx Ia IN,
I Before the seeds OF sickness will sprout
. the soil must be in a condition favorabl,
. to development and growth OF the seeds.
. The most favorable and inviting conditions
: for the development Of disease are unclean
!. illness and the presence OF parasites.
Does this not indicate tho wisdom o.
Graduating the favorable seed beds. OF keep
q ing everything in sanitary condition2 Clear
n birds. inside and out, clean food cleaI
d water. clean houses and clean runs. OF
. course cleanliness on the poultry plant 4
s relative. 1t docs not indicate tho oleanli
i ness which We demand In our own homes
. But II Ii far removed from tho nlthines
q which Is too often observed on many poul
: try far ms.
Parasites, both external and internal. sal
= strength and vitality. Get nd Of them
!. The use OF powder and liquid lioe killer
D. will down the lice and mites. Turpentin
o and olive oil mi 1ed In equal quantities an,
o given In small do2es will kill the Intestine
" worms. The treatment should be followe,
y by good pursative. as epson salts or cas-
10 tor oil.
Il The wster supply should DO protscts,
from conta minstion. a. much disease 1
" spread through tho medium Of the drink
a ing water.
n The same applies TO food. with the fur
J. Their warning against the use Of any feed
= which are sour. musty or mouldy.
Fresh air In abundance and plenty Of sun
70 light will go far toward keeping the house
" clean. in the sense in which the word Is USE
% in this article. Renew earth floors at leas
once each year. as long continued use ma e
II them particularly Objectionable. Sec tina
IS the litter Is always dry,
S, Just as a precaution spray the house
J. occasionally with any good disinfectan,
Most OF the commercial agricultural dis
infectants are largely cTeosote SO treate
that they readily mix with water. A stron
y solution Ia the best to use The materis
Is cheap enough to permit It being use
n freely
y Tainted ground. due to the oontinuou
II use or too heavy stocking with fowls.
= another fertile cause of sickness. Il
s best avoided by Quartering the flock O