The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-01-14
DISEASES OF POULTRY
AND THEIR TREATMENT

In any flock of poultry, regardless
Of size, an outbreak of disease is al
ways possible. In some cases, the
environment is bad and is the cause
Of many diseases among the fowls.
Disease may break out in well man.
aged flocks with no apparent cause,
but, usually where the environment
is good and good, wholesome food is
fed, there is but small danger from
disease.
Ordinarily, it does not pay to treat
fowls that are diseased. In the frs.
place, no fowls should ever be used
for breeding purposes that have ever
shown any signs of disease, no mat
ter how slight. Fowls that are d.
seased are not profitable for the rea-
son that they are not productive. The
value of the individual fowl and it's
product is not sufficient to justify a
very great effort in time or medi-
cines. If the disease is infectious,
or highly contagious, it should never
be treated. The danger of keeping
a diseased fowl about is entirely too
great. The better practice, then, I'M
der ordinary conditions, would be to
kill the diseased fowl as soon as no.
ticed and destroy the carcass by
burning it.
Prevention is the best cure for di-
seases of poultry. Ordinary pre-
ventative measures consist in keep
ing houses and yards or. runs scrupu-
lousy clean, giving only clean feed
and drinking water in clean feed hop
pers and clean drinking vessels. The
straw. in the house should be kept
fresh and clean. Finally, the flock
should be protected from outside con-
tagion. Breeding stock, or any fowls
brought in from the outside should
not be turned Immediately into the
flock. They should be isolated for
several days to see if any disease de-
velops.
Lice and mites are the cause of
more diseases among poultry than
any other one condition. Lice live
continuously on the fowls; mites stay
on them at night and go off during
the day. Licene and other similar
are splendid for lice and
may be obtained thru the local drug
gist, or the poultry supply houses.
Apply these ointments two or three
times each year and there will be no
lice on the poultry.
Mites must be kept out of the roost-
ing quarters, and that can be done
by painting the perches, droppings,
boards and the walls of the roosting
chamber up as high as the fowls can
touch, with a mixture of equal parts
Of kerosene and zenoleum, kreso, or
some other of the coal tar prepara-
lions that are found on the market.
This should be done several times dur
ing the summer months. If mites are
kept down during the summer months,
hey will not bother in winter. The
first warm days of spring is the time
when mites begin to require atten-
ion. The house should be thoroly
sprayed inside, at least, once year.
A good spray to use is Carbola.
tuberculosis is very common among
he fowls of Idaho and is very de-
tructive. The symptoms are lame
less and going light. Tubercular
ameness is often mistaken for rheu-
natism. When lameness becomes
common among the flock of fowls, the i
anne fowls should be diagnosed for
Fowls with tuberculosis |
will continue to eat almost to the last,
tut they gradually grow thinner I'M
il there appears to be no flesh on
he breast bone. The breast bone
ecomes very sharp and appears from
he feel, as being very dry. Upon
pening a fowl that is far advanced
n the disease of tuberculosis, it will
re found to have yellow, cheesy spots
N the liver and on the intestines or
ungs. In many cases, the spots are
ound on all of the internal organs,
ut are most commonly found on the
iver. On the intestines, the tuber
ules may grow in clusters. The
lngs of fowls are rarely affected by
The only treatment for
tuberculosis in fowls is to dispose of
he entire flock. The fowls may not
e total loss, as they may be sold
O the butchers, subject to inspec
ion, the same as other farm animals.
is not safe to keep any of the fowls
rom tubercular flock, as the disease
) likely to break out again at any
me- The house should be thoroly
the yards and runs cult
ated and, if possible, some crop
hould be grown on the land. All
,eatment should be very thoro, and