Williston graphic., 1916-07-20
Written
For
Graphic
Readers
BY
G.. E. Conkey
SANITATION IN THE POULTRY
YARD

The question of sanitation is one
which cannot long be disregarded by
the poultry keeper without encourag-
ing disastrous results in his Aock, and
this applies alike to the back-lotter
and the raiser OF thousands.
The dangers arising from neglected
sanitary precautions are greatly in
creased during the hot weather and
you'll do we'll to acQuaint yourself
with the care demanded at this time.
Sometimes seemingly small matters
will lead to serious troubles and even
cause a heavy loss in the flock in
very short time.
A Good Location Saves Work
1t is possible that some may be
more fortunate than others in haIin@
good natural conditions but at the
same time there are certain atten-
tons demanded in the way Of s1nita-
tion if uniformly successful results
are to be obtained. There is always
a great advantage in having houses
and runs favorably located for this
greatly lessons the work of caring
for the runs and more time can be
devoted to the attention of the house
interior.
fixtures and small equipment.
Purifying The Soil
With a very little care loose soil
with good drainage can be Kept free
from contamination, but heavy soil
like clay needs constant care or it
will get into such a filthy condition
as to endanger the health of the birds.
1t is best to plow or spade all ground
that is devoted to poultry use at least
once a year, but where the soil is
heavy or the birds are rather crowd
ed, this work should be done with
more frequency. However, with a
poor soil there is limit to the time
the land should be used for poultry
if the stock is to be kept free from
disease.
Vegetable growth is great soil
sweetener and renovator and when
ever possible some quick growing crop
should be planted in the runs. Some
times two yards are provided for each
flock or pen so that one can be seed
ed down while the other is in use, and
this is an ercellent idea where there
is plenty of room. If the land is
such that it cannot be freshened by
cultivation or vegetable growth, or
at least when these do no. prove suffi-
cient for the purpose, then covering
the ground with a coating Of lime
makes good purifier Also a weak
solution of carbolic acid Or cCal tar
disinfectant will be found good
germ killer and destroyer of para
sites in the SOIL Use these things
frequently when they are needed dur
ing hot weather. Where any filth
can be removed this should always be
done before spraying. Fill up any
low spots or mud holes ttat may be
in the run so the birds will have no
place from which to drink filthy wa
ter after a rain.
Soil contamination, naturally is of
little concern with the farm flock hav-
ing a large range but at the same
time it is true that poultry is often
kept where it is possible for the birds
to drink from pools Of stagnant wa
ter, especially about the barn yard,
and during the hot months in particu-
lar there is danger of this causing Sc
rious digestive ailments. The remedy
70 rthis particular trouble lies in bet
ter drainage or grading and filling in
of these low places.
Care of The Poultry House
The poultry house itself demands of
all alike certain amount of care in
the destruction of disease germs and
parasites and no halfway measures
will answer here, for the work must
be systematic and efficient.
The application Of a coat Of white
wash to the interior Of the house is
a common method of disinfection, and
this also has the advantage of bright
ening it and and improving the ap-
pearance. Adding carbolic acid or
coal-tar disinfectant to the white
wash will greatly increase it's eff
ciency. The house should be gone