The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-16
Diseases Pre0alent Among Young Chickens
Something About Their Causes and Symptoms; How to Prevent or Cure. Home Treatment for Ordi- nary Troubles of the Amateur
By M. G. KRuM Department of Poultry Husbandry. New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University.
Copyright. 1915.

NotpS SiiEnt, i'lo.'
 At this time of year. the amateur poul- try raiser Is at the mercy of any number of diseases that may make serious in- roads on his flock unless he is prepared.
 In this article. the author tells how to identify a number of the diseases that are most likely to manifest themselves. Also he tells how to get them in hand before the damage is done.
 Many amateur poultry raisers are anxiously looking forward to the brood
 ing season, having in mind their troubles and losses in previous years. There fore, let us cook over the list and see if we cannot get better insight into the causes. symptoms, cure and prevention of the more common diseases with the idea of avoiding lose if pos-rr.e.
 While diseases may not he Inherited, yet many times the susceptibility to them is strongly inherited and therefore we should see to it that we breed only from stock that are well bred, strong and vigorous. We should make sure that
 the birds have been properly 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. It Is pref | erable Ito have t\em take much of this exercise out of doors.
 The matching eggs should not be kept too long and should be well cared for. Many times weakness in chicks is trace
 able to chilling in transferring to broo1-
 CTS or to insufficient heat in the breed
 CTS Overheating. as in too small breeders
 where they have no way of escaping to n
 cooler place, gives the same symptoms as chilling.
 symptoms loss of appetite, lack of ac- | tieity and tendency to crowd even af- ter the temeprature has been regulated: : also looseness of the Towels. Treatment
 this calls for prevention rather than cure. As large numbers die directly or indi- rectly from this cause, 1t is well to imi-
 tate the other hen in all our breeding l systems. Follow above instructions. Toe picking is quite common among young incubator chicks during the first
 week that they are put Into the brooder I If the chicks are taken to the hrooder 1 al night instead of in the morning. there | is less danger of it. They can then be 1 fed the following morning and kept ac- 1 tive. In case chicks get to toe picking
 feed often but sparingly and scatter the | grain into a 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 1 plan will keep the chicks occupied and 1 make them healthy. Under these condi-
 tions they will forget about toe picking. 1 Leg weakness is caused by dampness, 1 insufficient ventilation, improper feed 1 ing and lack of exercise. Theatment, first remove the cause; let the chicks put on l the ground and feed proper rations. | Sore eyes. The sticking together of the l eyelids with a thick, dark -coored secre- l ton is not generally fatal. Treatment | bathe the eyes in a weak solution of
 peroxide of hydrogen and grease them with vaseline
 l Gapes-Symptoms frequent gasping fol breath due to the parasitic worms in ths windrpe. These are known as gape. worms. Many of these are coughed UT
 and live in the ground. These or tho l eggs are picked up the next season and ! thus the trouble continues year after 1 year Treatment-A feather may be l stripped to resemble small paint I brush Moisten this feather slightly with 1 oil Of turpentine and quickly thrust into the windpipe when the chicken gapes. IL will kill the worms which are coughed up. To prevent a reappearance of this trou- ble raise the chickens in new ground the following season. Do not let them on the old run for two or three years. Do not