Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-05-11

An infected Chicken
titled Tuberculosis of Poultry" which
is for free distribution. This spring
there has been issued Il poster which
Is being distributed yer the state. The
poster urges peultFymeH and farmers
to rid their fI0cks of tuberculosis.
Avian tuberculosis is primarily a dis
ease of chickens, although turkeys,
ducks and geese, as well as other do
nestle fowls, may become affected.
Pigeons and sparrows which have free
access to yards where there are tuber-
cular chickens. often become infected.
The disease Is caused by n variety of
the same organism which causes tu-
berculosis In man. There is no defin-
tie proof either TO prove or disprovc
that human beings may become infect
ed from tubercular chickens.
old Birds Affected
The older birds in n flock first show
symptoms Of tuberculosis. The disease
IL slow and insIdious In It's progress.
When first discovered many fowls in
the flock may he Infected. Birds fire.
quently become lame. weak and very
Ethin-ARa average IeghaEp hen which
Should weigh three pounds weigh
hardly eHe pound when badly diseased.
There may or may rot be diarrhoea,
and the comb and wattles usually are
pale. The diseased bird viii be
"droopy. and easily iostled about and
upset by other birds. Affected hens
Will / on the roosts until Don
sometimes all day. The length OF time
that a fowl will live after becoming in
fected is not definitely known. but
probably averages about ten months.
Young birds seldom die. the loss being
heaviest among fowls more than n
year old.
In most cases the liver Is all that ia
needed for diagnosis of the disease.
In y diseased fowl, this organ is en-
larged, sometimes three or four times
it's normal size. and is spotted over
the surface with yeliowish-whlte areas,
varying In size from a mere point to
the size of a pea. These spots are
rounded nodules, quite hard and dis
tinct from liver tissue. Nodules also
form on the walls of the intestines.
The tuberculin test. applied to hogs
and cattle. can also be used with ponl-
try but with doubtful practicability.
The expense would be far greater than
the vnftfe Of the
In it's recent circular the Montana
experiment station offers two means
of Kidding the place of tubercular
poultry.
First: birds of the entire flock may
be killed and dressed. Those found
to be healthy may be used or sold
The poultry house and yard then may
be cleaned and restocked with healthy
hens.
Or. second: the old flock may be
fenced in and a young and healthy
flock started outside. OF the old
flock. the healthy birds may be used
for meat. Their eggs also may be used
for Matching, or for the table. as the
disease is not transmitted to the egg.
In the fall. after the old flock has been
cleaned up. the house and yard may
be cleaned and the new flock moved
In.
Some poultry breeders who have
built up special strains and have made
RreputattUu In their hreed4HxSwM
hesitate when told that old birds that
are infected should all be killed off.
1t Is pointed out that eggs from even
these infected birds may be used for
Matching, as the disease Is not trans
mitted to the chick. Since infected
birds will eventually die of the disease.
and are a source Of Infection while
they live. II generally is cheaper 10
clean u the old flock AT once and
start with young and healthy birds.
The experiment station circular. re
ferred to gives detailed Instructions
concerfng the eradication Of tuber~
~ula~fs from fhs f1ork |