Oxford Democrat., 1916-09-19
Causes of Poultry Diseases.

II
There are endless causes of disease
among poultry, chief among them beins
careless breeding, damp, drafty houses
and filth-the last mentioned being BY
far the worst of all. Careless feeding il
another, and especially so when the feeC
is left lying about on the ground to be
come contaminated by the droppings o.
unhealthy birds. The waste of feed il
costly-for it is but seldom that bird,
least part of the evil; the souring of the
land, with its attendant train of disease
and death, Is greater.
We are careful with our horses, ouI
cattle, our sheep and our pigs, but poul
try may die of the deadliest and most in
fictitious disease and may be left lying
about to spread disease germs wholesale,
and no one seems TO care a whit. The
remedy is of the simplest. Isolate sick
birds on the first appearance of any dis
order, and burn all dead birds. The risk
of infection is thus minimized at once.
Poorly ventilated, drsfty houses, lead
ing as they do to outbreaks of cholera,
colds, consumption and other ailments,
arc q II uilluA eOuiOc VI iOoS " sho Poei
try yards of the world.
Considering the immense number OF
uses to which eggs can be put, and the
great advantages of having markets at
our very doors, poultry keepers should
take heed, lest by neglecting advice and
opportunities the industry be killed, so
far as the home producer is concerned,
~ the more careful business men at
distance with whom poultry buyers
might then have TO deal.
In the first place it must not be for
gotten that the most successful breeders
and fatteuers never keep diseased birds
about their yards. 1t is generally cheap
er and wiser to kill and burn the sick
birds right away. But If the oirds oe
valuable ones, they may be isolated and
treated. To be sure OF making larger
profit year by year the following rules
should be observed:
Never breed from birds which have
been cured, apparently, of roup, dropsy,
liver disease or consumption.
Always be careful to give the STOCK
plenty of clean fresh water at least once
a day, so that they need not drink any
filthy stuff they may have come across
Be sure that the poultry houses are
well built and thoroughly ventilated, out
not in the least degree drafty.
Be most careful to see that THESE
houses are kept clean ana sweet, and
free from vermin of all kinds.
Breed only from those hens which lay
best. Weed out each year those which
either by reason of the small SIZE OF
their eggs or from their inferior laying
capacities, can not be termed really
profitable.
Remember that brains and energy,
coupled with a careful attention TO de-
tails, are more valuable than the prac-
tice of false economy, whether as regards
money or time.
Above all else, remember that unless
all birds have proper supply OF clean
water and suitable foods, they can not
lay eggs, however well they may nave
been bred for the purpose.
Do not forget that birds haven't any
teeth, and in order that they may prop
erly masticate their feed and so keep
free from Indigestion and liver disease,
hard grit of some kind must be founo
for them. The cry, "My birds can ger
grit for themselves" is untrue. fowls
are not quarrymen, and they can not get
more grit than is actually on the sur
face, and only certain sizes OF THIS are
any real good.