Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-05-22
Copyright. 1915.

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1 to identify a number of the diseases
that are most likely to manifest them
selves. Also he tells how TO get them
in hand before the damage is done.
Many amateur poultry raisers are
anxiously looking forward to the
brooding season, having in mind their
! troubles and losses in previous years.
Therefore, let us look over the list
and see if we cannot get better in
! sight into the causes, symptoms, cure
and prevention of the more common
diseases, with the idea of avoiding
loss, If possible.
While diseases may not be inherited,
vet many times the susceptibility to
them is strongly inherited and there
fore we should see to 1t that we breed
only from stock that are we'll bred,
strong and vigorous. We should make
sure that the birds have been prop
erly housed and fed only wholesome
food, and this latter given in such a
way that they are obliged to take
enough exercise to maintain a good
circulation of the blood. 1t is prefer
able to have them take much of this
exercise out of doors.
The Matching eggs should not be
kept too long and should be we'll cared
for. Many times weakness in chicks
is traceable to chilling in transferring
to brooders or to insufficient heat in
the breeders. Overheating, as in too
small brooders where they have no
way of escaping to a cooler place,
gives the same symptoms as chilling.
Symptoms, loss of appetite, lack of
activity and a tendency to crowd even
after the temperature has been regu-
lated: also looseness of the bowels
Treatm calls for prevention
rather than cure. AS large numbers
die directly or indirectly from this
cause, it is we'll to initiate the other
hen in all our brooding systems. Fol-
low above instructions.
Toe picking is quite common among
young incubator chicks during the
first week that they are put into the
brooder If the chicks are taken to
the brooder at night instead of in the
morning, there is less danger of it.
They can then be fed the following
morning and kept active. In case
chicks get to toe picking, feed often
but sparingly and scatter the grain
into light litter where they can work
for it. In addition throw them some
finely chopped meat or green bone
and green food once or twice daily.
This plan will keep the chicks occu-
pied and make them healthy. Under
these conditions they will forget about
toe picking.
Leg weakness is caused by damp
ness. insufficient ventilation. improper
feeding and lack of exercise. Treat
ment, first remove the cause; let the
chicks put on the ground and feed
proper rations.
Sore eyes. The sticking together of
the eyelids with thick, dark-colored
secretion is not generally fatal. Treat
ment-Bathe the eyes in a weak solu-
tion of peroxide of hydrogen and
grease them with vaseline.
Gapes-Symptoms. frequent gasp
ing for breath due to the parasitic
worms in the windpipe. These are
these are coughed up and live in the
ground. These or the eggs are picked
up the next season and thus the trou-
BILE continues year after year. Treat
ment-A feather may be stripped so
as to resemble a small paint brush.
Moisten this feather slightly with oil
of turpentine and quickly thrust into
the windpipe when the chicken gapes.
1t will kill the worms which are
coughed up.
To prevent a temperance of this
trouble raise the chickens in new
ground the following season. Do not
let them on the old run for two or
three years. Do not move infested
chickens to a new area and thus
spread the trouble.
Coccidiosis is quite common and is
usually fatal Chicks from poor breed
ing stock are very susceptible.
Symptoms - Drowsiness, stunted
mortem shows the caeca or blind in
testine enlarged, hardened and often |
of a brownish color. The liver Is COW |
cred with yellow spots or particles |
This disease is similar to blackhead in |
turkeys and no cure is known. Treat |
of strong vigorous breeders and thor |
ough disinfection of the brooders with |
one part crude carbolic acid to three |
of kerosene or the use of any good |
strong disinfecting material Give
plenty of sour skim milk or butter
milk from the first feeding.
White diarrhea--Many forms of |
bowel trouble are often mistaken for
this fatal disease. The bacilary white
diarrhea is usually inherited from the
breeding stock, the germs are found
in the ovaries of the hens and are
to the chicks. many of
whom die at less than ten days of age.
Symptoms, dropping wings, listless
attitude. a thick pasty discharge and
a wasting away of the body.
Treatment-Liberal use of sour
milk. Some poultrymen use a foun-
tain pen filler and force feed into the
chick before they are old enough to
be taken from the Incubator. This
trouble can be somewhat avoided by
rigid selection and proper care of the
breeders.
Moldy feeds and moldy litter are re-
sponsible for much of the mortality
among fowls and especially young
chicks. The mold dust from the litter
is inhaled through the lungs, while
mold in feed is taken in through the
digestive organs. Symptoms-The
bird is inactive and sleepy and stands
around with the wings hanging down.
The breathing is rapid, with a tend
ency to catarrh. and the chicken has
little disposition to eat The excre-
ment is usually white. A post mortem
will show soft yellowish growths in
the lungs and sometimes in the in
test1nes. These are in size from a pin
head to a pea.
There is no known cure. This is a
case calling for prevention by the use
of only clean, sweet food and using
litter free from mold, and keeping the
yards we'll spaded or planted to some
green food.
The best and cheapest tonics are |
pure air, pure water, wholesome food, |
plenty of exercise and sanitary sur |
roundings. Most of the commercial |
feeds are very good. In buying them |
avoid those with too much millet or
other hard shelled grains. Grit should
be fed separately. Be absolutely sure
that all foods are free from mold or