The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-05-06

eggs are scarce and prices rule high. The
most satisfactory plan Is given In detail.
BY PROF. FREDERIC H. STONEBURN
NOULTRYMEN are now most inter
ested in successfully growing their
flocks of chicks and other duties are
kubordinated to this vital one. Failure
to carry a reasonable number of young
sters to maturity simply means that lit
tie or no profit can be made from the
seasons operations.
From the number Of letters which
reach my desk, containing requests for
information regarding certain chick dis
eases, it is evident that many of our
readers are experiencing the usual
amount of trouble this season. 1t seems
best, therefore, to briefly discuss at this
time the best means of overcoming GER
tain of the more common ailments.
Leg weakness-Many individual chicks.
and frequently whole broods, go off
their feet" being unable to stand, and
This is most commonly found in brooder
chicks, and while it is not a disease, 1t
causes a great amount of trouble and
considerable loss. Chicks so affected
seem to lack the strength to carry their
weight, and their development will be ar
rested unless the condition is corrected.
Avoid Too High Temperature.
Continuous overheating in the brooder
may bring on the trouble. In such cases
the cause should be removed and the
birds hardened to lower temperature,
which will assist in restoring strength
and vigor.
Confinement for long periods in bone
dry pens will frequently cause the shanks
and feet to dry up and weaken. Get the
stock out On moist ground or provide
damp earth or sand in which to scratch.
The most fertile source Of trouble lies
In the feeding ration which is lacking
in some of the essential elements needed
to promote even development. Overfeed-
ing of fat-producing foods, as corn, causes
rapid gains in weight, but bone is lacking.
If this is the cause, feed plenty Of green
food, oats, wheat and bran, reducing the
amount of corn accordingly. Supply ami
NAL food, as milk, beef scrap or fish scrap.
Add bonemeal to the mash or supply gran
ulated bone in hoppers.
Gapes-The distressing symptoms of
this disease are constant gaping, cough
Ing, sneezing and apparent suffocation.
The cause is a Y-shaped worm, about a
half inch in length, which is located in
the windpipe of the sufferer.
Many strong chicks will throw off the
trouble unassisted, but where hooks are
affected the mortality is high.
The best preventive measure is to grow
-. f--1 100000 -vho.@ fhn
cape worm is not present. In certain
stages of development this parasite is
found in earth worms, and when the
chicks eat the latter the trouble appears.
Chicks may also pick up the cape worms
which have been expelled by afflicted
chicks. This indicates the necessity OF
keeping feed and water dishes in strictly
sanitary condition and preventing the
food and water supply from becoming
contaminated. Frequent and thorough
cultivation of the yards is also recon-
mended.
The worms may be drawn from the
threats of the sufferers by use of cape
worm extractors or loops of horse hair.
In all cases the affected individuals
should be removed from the rest of the
flock and kept in separate quarters In
order to check the spread of the disease.
White diarrhea-Much has been said
about this scourge of baby chicks, which,
unfortunately, bears the name OF a single
symptom which is commonly observed in
many other disorders. Poultrymen too
often jump at the conclusion that true
white diarrhea is present in their flocks
because they observe the whitish dis
charge, while as a matter of fact the
trouble is something entirely different.
Bacillary White Diarrhea.
The contagious form of this disease,
the true white diarrhea which sweeps
through the seasons crop OF chicks and
causes extremely high mortality, is due
to the activities Of a specific kind of
bacteria. For this reason the trouble is
commonly called "bacillary white diar-
rhea," and the organism struggles under
the name "bactcrium pullorum."
This disease usually appears when the
chicks are very young and does Its work
within two or four weeks. The affected
chicks are weak and stunted, have ruffled