The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-29
hts On How To Make Poultry Raising Success
KEEP DISEASE FROM FOWL
IN WINTERS CONFINEMENT
Flock Which Escapes Ravages of Gapes, Roup Chicken
Pox, and Scaly Leg is Best Producer Of Eggs and
Meat, as Well as Dividends
Especial Information Service s. Department of Agrculture)


Demon disease is difficult to con- /
troll among focks of poultry because
fowls are housed together in relatives
ly large numbers and when disease |
develops the comparatively low value
of each bird does not justify special
care and attention for each individu-
al hen. Hence, it is essential to pro-
tect the flock against the entrance
of disease. Unless maintained in a
healthy condition chicks will not
grow properly while mature fowls
will rapidly lose their vigor and Vi
tality and become unproductive and
Improbable. Prevention against
disease is simple; attempt to cure n
bird after it becomes sick is difficult.
Safety first for the flock necessitates
scrupulous care not to expose the
birds needlessly and to practice all
precautions which make for hen
health.
THE FOUR WORST MALADIES
Gapes, roup, chicken pox, and scaly
leg are the "big four" among poultry
diseases. Annually these pestilences
invade flocks and effect heavy NOR
tality. Gapes is the "ker-choo" or
sneeze diseases of chickens, which al
ways may be recognized by the
fact that itlincites the fowls to con-
tinuous coughing and generally af-
fects young chicks and young turk
eys in the first few weeks of their
lives. Gapes is caused by little
worm which attaches itself to the in
side of the windpipe, where it multi
plies and ultimately ogstructs the
passage so that breathing is made
difficult and ultimately prohibited to
the extent that the bird chokes and
dies. The female worm, while resid-
ing in the windpipe of the fowl, pro-
duces many eggs which are distribut-
ed widely as the chicks sneeze, or
are swallowed and scattered about
through the intestinal tract. The
young worms which hatch from these
| eggs live in the earth for a long time
and ultimately are picked up and
swallowed by young chicks, thereby
completing the cycle of the disease.
This explains how infection is Carried
over from one year to another and
why it is important that the same
ground should not be used year after
year for chicken raising operations.
KEEP HENS ON CLEAN SOIL
OF course, the best control is to
keep the chicks on fresh clean soil at
all times. If they deevlop the disease
move them Immediately to fresh pas
ture where the grass is plentiful
Spread lime heavily over infested
areas and pillow expediously in order
to destroy any worms present. Ex-
pert "lariat work" reminder of the
western range variety, is necessary
to rid the chicks gullet of these
worms. This is accomplished by tax
ing a long hair from horses tail
twisting the two ends together to
form a loop and inserting it down the
chicks windpipe about one inch, Civ
ing it two or three turns and ther
withdrawing it with the struggling
worms which it encircles. This should
be repeated until all the Invaders are
captured and destroyed by scaldine
or burning.
Roup is the hay fever ailment OF
paultry, as it induces profuse watery
discharges from the eyes and nostrils
which ultimately Interfere with the
birds breathiny. Eyelids so swoller
that they stick together and loss OF
appetite are also evidences of this
coplaint. The ailment is very con-
tagious and is distributed by the sail
va discharge from the mouth anc
nostrils, being scattered broadcast
when poultry feeding utensils are US
ed community fashion. Prevention