Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-04-07
DISEASES OF POULTRY

1t has been found by investigation
that the white diarrhea of young
chicks is caused by at least four diff
ferent kinds of infection, and each
Of these needs TO be studied separate
ly. All of these microbes also infect
adult fowls and are generally com
municated directly or indirectly.
The most common cause of the dis
ease is a bacillus called Bacterium
pullorum. This often infects hens
and also the eggs which they lay
such eggs produce chicks which have
the germs of the disease within them
when they are hatched and these
chicks show symptoms within the
first few days Of their lives. The con-
tagion may also be communicated
from chick To chick by means of the
microbes scattered with the drop
pings, which contaminate the food
and drink. and cause the appearance
OF the symptoms when the birds are
from one To two weeks old. The
chicks are most susceptible to infec-
ton during the first twenty-four hours
of their lives, are more resistant dur
ing the second and third days, and
are practically insusceptible after the
fourth day. Those that sicken later
must have taken the microbes into
their bodies before they reached that
age. Incubators and breeders. as
we'll as coops, become infected and
preserve the contagion indefinitely.
Adult fowls are resistant To this mi
crobe and do not show any symp-
toms even when they are laying in
fected eggs
The cholera bacillus may also be
carried by laying hens and infect the
egg before il is laid The young
chicks Matched from such eggs soon
show symptoms of disease and COM
municate the contagion to others at
all ages
The coccidia which causes a chronic
disease in adult fowls may also infect
the eggs and cause disease with
similar symptoms in the chicks.
The aspergillus fungus is the fourth
cause Of white diarrhea. 1t occasion
ally is included in the egg when it is
laid, but it may also penetrate the
shell when eggs are packed in moldy
chan, straw or grain or allowed to get
damp.
All of these microbes may also be
carried on the outside of the shell
and may infect nest boxes. incubat-
tors, brooders and yards where diseas-
ed chickens have been.
The symptoms of white diarrhea
are seen in young chicks which are
from a day or two to three or four
weeks old. In the most acute form
they may die suddenly after having
shown but slight symptoms for a short
time Generally however, there is
first observed a disposition TO huddle
together and 10 remain under the
hover or under the hen more than
young chicks should. Very soon they
appear listless, Indifferent To what is
going on about them, stupid and
sleepy They stand in one position
or sit still with the eyes closed. and
the few efforts which they make to
pick up food apear mechanical and
unsuccessful. Their plumage loses
it's luster, the wings droop or project
slightly from the body, and the char
acteristic diarrhea soon appears. Tne
droppings which are Voided may be
white and creamy. mucilaginous and
glairy, or they may be mixed with
brownish material. often the sticky
eXcrement adheres TO the downy
feathers about the vent, dries, and
continues to accumulate until it COM
pletely covers and plugs this opening.
This condition, known as "pasting up
behind" will. unless soon relieved.
bring about the early death of the
chick.
Many OF the diseased chicks chirp
or peep almost constantly, and when
attempting to void the eXcrement they
may give utterance TO "a shrill cry. as
if the effort brought on paroXysms of
pain. AS death approaches the
breathing becomes labored, and the
abdomen heaves with each breath. Of
ten the disease is of a more chronic
type and has a longer course. The
young birds with diarrhea gradually
waste away, become weaker and more
emaciated until their legs are scarcely
able TO support their bodies. They
try TO brace themselves by standing
with the legs apart or they rest
against wall or other object for sup
port. Many of them have the peculiar
form of body called short backed"
which results from the distention of
the abdomen and its projection back
ward. which makes the back appear
too short for the body. Toward the
last the strength is completely eX-
nduSltd anu the tIlth SllS constantly
or lies on the side with outstretched
wings until il dies.
The most prominent and char
acteristic symptoms in nearly all cases
are the white diarrhea discharges and
the rapid wasting away Of the affect
ed birds. The losses vary from so TO
so per cent of the chicks Matched.
Sometimes it is impossible TO raise
any of them.
The medical treatment OF affected
chicks is impracticable, as IL is too
expensive and has very little effect on
the course OF the disease. The birds
may be given sour milk or buttermilk
to drink, or, lacking this. Is grains OF
powdered catechu may be added TO
che gallon of drinking water