Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-14
A Menace to EgS Production.


tended for this department 20 HHNsr
aAAAoND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrss. Paris, Ne.
A Menace to Egg Production.
tJohn s. Carver, Poultry specialissl
AT this time Of the year many hens In
our hOcks are apt to have rather bad
colds and even roup. Colds In q floch
csnse a rapid decrease in egg production
and for that reason If no other, they
should be guarded against. The symp.
toms Of cold are loss of appetite, sneez
ing, hard breathing, watery discharge
from eyes and nose. dullness, and in bad
cases wheeling when trying to breathe.
The best cure is to prevent colds BY
remedying the causes.
PREVENT COLDS.
Lice: Hens that are covered with lice
are low in vitality because of their heavy
infeststion, and for this reason are espe-
cislly susceptible in their deyitalized
condition to infection from colds. Pre-
vent the ravages Of lice by applying a
piece of "Blue Ointment" the size OF q
pea, Just below the vent of the infected
bird. Don't wait until your hens have
contracted colds before "Blus Butter
ing" them. It is, however, better late
than never.
SANITARY CONDITIONS.
Not only must we have the birds free
from lice to prevent colds, but we must
also keep them clean. Il is important
in the fall and winter, when our hens
are housed and have no outdoor run, to
keep the litter on the floor clean and
dry; keep the droppings cleansed from
the dropping boards; keep the nest
clean; and lastly to supply them With
plenty of clean fresh water and keep the
pan or pail clean. Dirty, dis
ease laden water is the quickest means
of spreading colds and roup.
CRowDINs ON BOOSTS.
Pullets often crowd on the roosts aud
in the corners during the fall and winter.
CrOwding of this kind produces what Is
called ''Sweating" Birds jumping from
the roosts TO the cold floor of the house
in this sWesty condition take cold very
quickly. 1t is important then to see
that all Of your birds are roosting and
have plenty of room on the roOst. IL
they persist in budding on one part Of
the roost and leaving part Of the roost
vacant, look for a draft.
DRAUeHTs.
Plenty of fresh air is essential to health
aud insnres dry and healthful Interior.
The open front house provides US with
fresh air and no draughts and supplies
the birds with sn abundance OF oxygen
which makes them strong, active and
resistant to disease. There Is no greater
menace to the birds than draughts strik-
ing on them from cracks and crevices be-
hind the roosts. Be sure such cracks
are tightly closed il you wish to avoid
colds.
DRY LITTER.
Damp and mOuldy litter is responsible
for more colds during the winter than
any other one thing. II We wish to keep
our hens laying well and free from colds
it is very important that the litter always
be maintained dry. The best litter for
Maine conditions is a mixture OF cat OF
rye straw and plsner shavings. rms
litter can be kept dry by having wen
ventilated open front house with board
door two feet from the ground, the air
under 1t and by replenishing
it when II becomes finely broken up:
The litter cannot be kept dry In closed
front poultry house with q floor laid on
the ground. Keep the litter dry!
BIRDS OF Low VITALITY.
Small, immature, inactive, crow head
ed, dumpish individusls are always the
tirst to have the fall and winter colds be-
cause Of their poor vitality. They are a
menace to the rest Of the flock IS carriers
of disease and as they are non-producers
had better be disposed OF as table birds.
TREATMENT OF COLDS.
First look for the cause, and having
found Ii, apply the remedy at once Tor
it will be found Of no avail to treat the
hens for colds II you have not removed
the factor that caused them In the hrst
place.
As colds may be spread through the
drinking water, Il will be found sdVisa-
BILE to add q couple Of tablespoonfuls OF
kerosene to the top Of the water or to
mix one teaspoonful OF potassium per-
manganste crystals to q pail Of water.
Both of these ACT as strong disinfectants
to the nostrils and mouths Of the In
fected birds.
At the same time feed in place OF the
morning scratch grain, a wet mash made
up OF the regular laying mash and .
solution of EPSON Salts, one tesspoonful
TO q bird, dissolved in little water,
mixed With the mash. Feed birds wha'
% cal they will clean up in half an hour
II eyes are badly infected with colds
apply boric ointment to. eyebrows OF
wash In q solution of boric acid.
A,kand 70 tha colds and avoid roup.