Milford chronicle., 1916-09-29
KEEPING The FLOCK
FREE OF DISEASE
By J. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights Reserved

One Of the real duties Of the poultryman is Il
make an effort to keep his fowls comparatively
free from disease. Does the condition Of absolute
freedom from disease exist within your poultry
plant? If it does. you are an exception to the gen
eral rule Of breeders. for there are few y any
fiocks Of birds that absolutely free OF disease
at any one time.
There are many varied diseases which viii cror
up among the fowls at different seasons Of the
wear and in an effort to get rid of them the breeder
is often calledupon to spend considerable money.
Even then their efforts often fail with the result
that many deaths result This is particularly no
ticeabe with the younger or smaller chicks but Is
also true of the older or matured birds.
There is. however. CAUSE for diseases among
fowls and its presence can almost invariably be
traced to the lack of thorouRhness on the part of
the breeder. his failure ts properly care for the
wants and general health of the birds. and mat
tention to the sick specimens when once he notices.
an affected one.
Inattention. or rather carelessness, on the part
of the breeder is often the cause for the particular
malady spreading through an entire hock with
the result that nearly If not all Of them are wiped
out and extermnated this necessarily means a
| great loss In money value. Many persons might
claim that this is slightly exaggerated. but never
theless l have known instances which warrant
the statement.
| / don't mean to say that all the chickens in
every flock where disease breaks out will become
affected and succumb. but it often happens In
many cases, those who do not die are rendered un-
fit for future service and to all 1ntents and pur-
poses are dead" Tor might well have died.)
This naturally brings out the qustions How
/ can chickens be kept free from diseaseY Can dis
I
and sometime. way back in the ages. Il appears,
| wise man said An ounce Of prevention is worth
a pound Of cure" and this has been repeated from
time to time until the present day, and it is as true
/ today ever it was.
i There is no better way to eradicate disease
among poultry than to apply the treatment Of pre-
vention. If you will take the trouble to try and
/ prevent disease from cropping out among the
birds you will have but little trouble with it.
most of the diseases known to poultrydOm are the
direct result Of earelessness or nattention the
part of the breeder No disease is as hard to pre-
vent "a it is to cure when once it gets hold. and
for this reason it behOoves every poultryman to
study the conditions surrounding his plant and to
guard against everything that might bring about
disease.
There are fundamental and basic principles for
everything, and the poultry business is no excep-
ton. The three important fundamentals. which
if strictly adhered to, Will prevent almost every
disease known to poultrydomi are proper housing.
exRcting care, and cleanliness
With these three important matters in mind, let
US consider each in the order named While all
three of these Of utmost importance, yet
believe that the matter of proper housing is Of the
greater necessity. More fowls are made III and
more disease is the direct result Of improper hous-
ing than from any other cause.
The birds quarters is its home-it should there
fore be comfortable and free from disease. In ad-
dition to being comfortable il should be healthful
and thus should be free from drauRhts and inn
proper ventilation. Freah air is a requisite Of
good health. but draughts are forerunners Of dis
ease.
In order to procure the very best results. the
coop should be built facing the south and all open
lngs made IN this particular side OF the building
Make no attempt to close up the coop tightly but
rather leave a goodly portion Of this particular
side of it open, save for a wire covering. If this
side of the COOP contains the door, and possibly !
windows in place Of being opened by all means
keep these appertures open during the spring, !
summer and fall months Then too. they should !
not be entirely closed up during the winter sea-
son; for il is as necessary to provide the fowls
with fresh air during this period well as during
the warmer weather.
The one important thing to remember is to avoid
drauuhts. and to do this. have onaufnps in /
more than side of the house. unless for pur- !
poses of entering; and in this case it should be /
snugly fitted so as not to form q drauRht when /
closed Then keep it closed at all times Draughts
cause damage at all seasons Of the year.
In case you have the southern side open and the l
weather becomes too severe it can be covered with |
q muslin curtain. This will allow the birds sufh-
cient fresh air and at the same time afford enough
protection from severe weather Make three sides