The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-25
CHICKEN DANGERS;
HOW TO AVOID THEM
Care in Housing a Preventive
of Many Serious Flock
DcstrOyers.
rryGTS CAUSES TROUBLE
MANY Diseases May BE Checked
w Careful Attention in
Early Stages.
rryGrs CAUSES TROUBLE
~. rros. r. II. sTONEBURN.

artificial mar, of his work--the Matching and
rearing of his annual chicken crop. Breed
i,, mons are being mated up, inCubators
oyerhaulcd. breeders and brooder houses
nh, in order when the actual time arrives
m set the eggs one cannot AFFORD to lose
PRECIOUS days in getting the machines in
order.
Rabv chicks. whether Matched by hens
or bv artificial methods. are tender things
md are beset by host OF dangers. Cats.
rats skunks. hawks and other predatory
enemies are constantly alert for chicken
dinners. lice and mites exact their toll,
heat and cold. sun. wind and rain do their
mart In the work of destruction. disease in
various forms does its share. and 1t Is big
one
Now. this list may seem sufficient to
dainpen the ardor of the most enthusiastic.
but in reality IL IL not a bad rs appears on
the surface Losses from these various
sources may he virtually eliminated by the
adoption of comparatively simple measures.
The man who understands the why and
wherefore. who meets the conditions. raises
his chicks and makes money. The careless
individual trusts to luck and often stands
idly 10y while a large proportion of the
flock goes the way of all flesh and all possi-
bility of making profit is lost.
Properly constructed buildings and runs
will foil most enemies and overcome the
elects of unfavorable weather. Disinfect-
ants and lice killers will check the activities
of the parasites. Properly constructed
and operated breeders will keep the chicks
comfortable. Careful breeding backed by
the intelligent Use of simple methods OF
dl>inieCtion and treatment Will largely
control disease. Therefore the man who
suffers "a heavy mortality among his growing
chicks need not say that 1t is the result of
bad luck" Rather. II is the result OF bad
management. lack of knowledge or faulty
practice.
Il Is quite probable that the greatest
source OF loss among young chicks in all
section, OF the country is due to the disease
or more properly. group of diseases popu-
larry known as white diarrhpa. This
trouble has long been known. but apparently
Il was not generally recognized as being
such scourge until about fifteen years ago.
Since that time white diarrhea has been
more dreaded and has caused greater annual
loss than any factor or group of factors
which adversely affect young chicks.
II il unfortunate that a specific disease
has been given the name of one of Its symp-
toms, as considerable confusion is caused
thereby whitish discharge is one OF
the prominent symptoms of true white
darrhBa. but il also accompanies certain
digestive disturbances which are not in
any sense related or similar TO the disease
under discussion. Too often the poultry
man observes this single symptom and
I'm nediately Jumps at the conclusion that
IN. flock is injected with white darrh1a
when IN reality no such condition exists.
There are two separate and distinct
diseases with very similar symptomswhicl
rhr poultryman should learn to recognize
a-pergillosis and baciliary white diarrhpa
the latter being the true white diarrhPa
the most destructive and hardest to control.
Aspergillosis. frequently termed broode
pneumonia. results from the growth within
the body of "A fungus. especially in the al
passages. This fungus Aspergillis fumi
gatus-is widely distributed. being com
monty found on mouliy hay, straw. grain
Sc 1t is spread through the medium %
minute spores which effect lodgmen
In suitable places and there develop.
In the case of chicks the spores are in
hailed or taken in with the food. and the
fungus begins to grow. throwing OF add
tional spores aud so extending the infection
The affected chick becomes dumpish ant
sleepy, the wings droop and whitish dia
rhpa develops. The respiration Is usual
rapid. sometimes accompanied by snorin'
sound
The disease may be confused with tru
white diarrhpa when diagnosed exclusivel
Dt external symptoms. nONtNti, u poSt
mortem examination will settle the matte
definitely. In cases of asperRllosls sinal
yellowish fubercles will be observed in tn
Internal organs especially in the lungs. bu
frequently in the intestines. liver and Othe
organs,
Treatment of affected chicks is useless
Better TAR prevent the trouble from maxim
- appearance. since from every point c
view prevention is always better than cure
The whole flock. breeders and youngsters
sAupld be kept under strictly hygienic con
G.uou- Clean food and dry, sweet lite
VIII practically eliminate the chance of IN
lection Particular attention should b
paid TO the breeders. disinfecting irequentl
ard keeping them dry and clean. No foo
should be permitted To mould and waite
di-to~ and feed troughs should be scalde
AID sluned from time TO time. Under sue
conditions aspergilosis will seldom If eve
appear.
Baciuary white diarrhGa is much nor
complicated and cannot be thus easil
controlled. 1t may be attacked at severn
different points, and in order that this ma
b" done intelligently 1t Is necessary
understand the whole matter.
Ia" symptoms of the disase are in man
way similar to those of aspergillosis. 1hes
symptoms are not necessarily all observe
H. every chick suf' ering with the diseas
but they will be noted in epidemics OF al
considerable size.
The earliest DEATH ma y occur very short
after he chicks are Matched. in which ca
the specific symptoms will not be observe
soon, within "A very few days. the chara
tensile whitish discharge from the ve
Hlpoars. In character this is sticky
gJrn and it frequently accumulates on q
G"NuF teath hers.
lhe Affected individuals seem chilly al
re'uan in the warmest available plac
hey are sleepy. lstless, dopy, with ruf1i'
i'aiA"rs and dragging wings. The appel
j. impaired and the victims become wea
amt cmacieted
lr most epidemics certain proporti'
Of h" chicks present that peculiar appea
nno" which poultrymen term "shor
blrtcd" This is easily observed. The
o"ks appear "stilty." the back seeming
shortened and the abdomen protruding.
Driths directly due to bacillary viii
dmrrhra occur during the FIRST four wee
airr hatching. though considerable me
La', may be observed later. due to col
pnnH'ions
Again. final diagnosis rests upon I
post mortem examinations. In TYPO
"asr. absorbed yohs will be observe
~" sutcstines will appear pale ana bloc
l"-- and usually empty or nearly 50;
H'rr. 'ongested, generally pale. with strea