The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-26
'oultry houses should be kept
 By MRS. JOHN c. MOSES

Before the flock goes into winter quarters every measure should be taken by the poultry keepr to insure the health of the birds, according to the United States department of agri- culture. Only healthy fowls can be expected to produce eggs in winter Well-developed bullets and young hens should be kept for the winter laying flock, of course; but no matter how well such birds are fed, if they are annoyed by lice and mites or weakened by disease, they will not be profi- table
 Fowls are subject to a considerable number of diseases, some of which spread rapidly through the flock and cause a high mortality. They may also be infested by various kinds of parasites. some of which live on the surface of the body and others in the crop stomach, or intestines. These parasites are injurious because they take a part of the nourishment which should be used by the bird to put on flesh or to produce eggs. and also be- cause by their movements and their biting they cause irritation and in- flammation of the parts which they attack Germs and parasites which cause disease should be kept out of the flock by suitable preventive meas ures because disease may be avoided much more easily and cheaply than it can be cured. The aim in studying the diseases of poultry is, therefore to learn how to prevent such diseases rather than how to cure them. Clean Illness is the first and most important step in all measures for disease pre- vention.
 HOW TO PREVENT DISEASE
 It is very important to start right
 4t- At. are free from illness and parasites. which is likewise free from these causes of disease. If all the avail able ground has been recently used for poultry the fowls should be re- moved from that part which is to be used for the new or winter flock. a good coating of freshly slaked lime should be applied to the entire surface of fIthe ground, and a few days later it should be spaded or plowed. It may be cultivated three or four times with intervals of a week and finally sowed witE rye, or other grain In few months the greater part of the germs In order to keep the flock in a healthy corditien, the premises must be frequent ly cleaned and occasionally disinfected. There are a number of reasons for this. First, there are certain germs generally
 
 fowls that are scattered with the ma nure. and which. when they are permit ted to accumulate and become very nu- merous, may cause outbreaks of disease; second, the germs of contagious diseases may be brought to the poultry yard by pigeons or other birds which fly from one poultry yard to another, or by mice or rats: third, it is seldom that ground is obtained for the poultry yard which is entirely free from infection with the eggs of parasitic worms and the spores of disease-producing microbes.
 To keep these germs and parasites from developing and increasing their numbers to a dangerous extent the houses should be kept clean, the drinking fountains and feed troughs should be washed every week with boiling water or other disln- fectant, and, if any lice or mites are found on the birds or in their houses, the roosts and adjoining parts of the walls should be painted with mixture