The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-09-27
FOES
To WINTER EGGS
Hens Annoyed by Lice and Mites
or Weakened by Disease
Are UnprofitabIe.
CLEANLINESS IS FIRST Aid
Prevention Is Easier, Cheaper and
MoLs Reliable Than cure-Use Of
Freshly SIaked Lime In the
House Recommended.

Before the flock goes into winter
quarters every measure should be
taken by the poultry keeper 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 pullets 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
profitable.
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
crops, 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 1t
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 tight
and begin the flock with birds that
are free from illness and parasites,
and to put such birds upon ground
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 the ground, and few days later 1t
should be spaded or plowed. 1t may
be cultivated three or four times with
intervals of a week and finally sowed
with rye, or other grain. In few
months the greater part Of the germs
will be destroyed.
Keep Premises Clean.
In order to keep the flock in
healthy condition, the premises must
be frequently cleaned and occasionally
disinfected. There are a number OF
reasons for this. First, there are GER
tain germs generally present in the In
testines even of healthy fowls that are
scattered with the manure, and which,
when they are permitted to accumu-
late and become very numerous, 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 poul-
try yard to another, or by mice or rats;
third, it is seldom that ground is OBJ
tained 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