Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-04-13
COMMON DISEASES
AMONG POULTRY

(By c. T. Owen, County Agent
Chicken Pox, or Sorehead:-First
symptoms, small gray sores on comb
and head. Sores gradually turn dark
and spread rapidly. When allowed to
develop, sore will spread to and close
eyes and then go to fleshy parts of
the body. Sorehead is very contag-
ious. Isolate sick bird, rub carbola-
lated vaseline on sores. After few
hours remove scab and apply per
cent solution Of carboic acid or some
other strong disenfectant.
Croup:-Early symptoms same as
cold. Discharge from nostrils has
very putrid odor and hardens into a
scab. A swelling containing hard
yellow pus gathers below the eye and
continually grows until it pushes eye
out In advanced stages it attacks
the throat and mouth. Small white
patches can be seen and bird wheezes
or rattlcs when it breathes. Wash the
scab from nostrils and eyes with per-
manganate or some other antlseptic.
Remove pus from eyes. With medicine
dropper or syringe squirt 20 per cent
hydrogen peroxide or permanganate
in nostrils or hold birds head in solu-
ton until it inhales. Cankers should
be removed from throat and mouth and
concentrated solution of permangan-
ate applied. Permanganate should
be placed in all drinking water. If
permanganate cannot be obtained,
add just enough coal oil to drinking
water to form light skim over top.
Fowl Cholera:-A bird infected with
cholera loses its appetite and will not
eat but is very thirsty and drinks much
water. After few hours it will draw
up in a corner or some place away
from the rest of the flock, its feathers
will be ruffled and its head drawn in.
They will often times stagger when
trying to walk. The comb becomes
dark and there is a bowel discharge
greenish yellow in color. Cholera is
very contagious and will spread fror
bird to bird or from flock to flock
very rapidly. Isolate all sick birds
as soon as detected. Give sick birds
few drops of creolin in their drink
ing water. One tenth of grain tab
let of corrosive sublimate to a quart
of water may also be used. Birds hav-
ing had cases should be killed by the
wringing of the neck or some method
which will not bleed them. Then burn
all litter i'll the house and thoroughly
clean yards.
White Diarrhea This disease MAJ
be present in the adult bird and yet
show no visible signs. 1t will b"
present in the ovaries, however, and
he, tyon TO flA hnt, hon
infected. White Diarrhea often kills
the chicks before it matches. Seldom
does much harm after chick is two
weeks old. There is no cure. Sour
milk helps chicks greatly.
Parasites; Poultry Body Lice
There are many species of body lice.
They live on feather scales and may
be found on all parts of the body but
most common in the fluff below the
vent and under wings. Lice do not
suck blood but only irritates by rum
ming over the body Hens can easily
be rid of lice and there rs no excuse
for lousy birds. Best methods is to
mix mercuric ointment or blue oint-
ment with vaseline so per cent. Rub
small amount about the size of a
pen into the skin about one inch be-
low the vent.
Birds may be busted with any good
louise powder. Good homemade pow
der may be made as follows: Take
IA pint of crude carbolic acid; "a at
gasoline, mix with 2 Ia pounds plas-
ter of Paris slowly. After mixing thor
oughly, pass through mosquito wire
screen and allow screenings to dry for
several hours. May be applied to use
of tin can containing many small holes
making it similar to salt cellar.
In nature birds rid themselves OF
lice by the dust bath. A box of wood
ashes placed where birds can wallow in
it will usually free birds of lice.
Lice often kill little chicks by Dor
ing into the brain. Where lice are at
all in evidence grease heads of baby
chicks with lard or vaseline
Mites:-Mites are sucking insects
and do more harm than lice. They VIII
often suck enough blood from a hen
to kill her. Mites when present VIII
usually be found about roost, nest or
in cracks in house. They are gray or
white until filled with blood. Then
lncN are kCu. MitOS btNSu uhNNl
roost, in cracks or in the nest and can
best be destroyed in these places. Spray
houses and fixtures about week be-
tween times with coal oil or CONNER
cial preparation, such as carbolineum
! All nesting material or litter should
be removed before spraying, Where
possible move nest, roost, etc, outside
and sun after spraying.
Scaley Legs:-Scales on shanks will
be enlarged, standing outright and are
usually scaiy and inflamed. Is caus-
ed by small mite boring beneath the
scale. These mites will spread from
bird to bird. :.
Treatment:-Dip birds shanks in
coal oil and let soak for 3 minutes.
Do not allow feathers to become oiled
or blistering will result. Another very
effective method is to rub shanks with
vaseline and sulphur. In bad cases
either of the two treatments may need
to be repeated several times.
Red Bugs or Chiggers:--Small red
insects attach themselves to exposed
skin in clusters which become encased
in nodules. The chicks worry. have
| diarrhea, weaken and die. Chiggers
live in sand and in dead weeds and
brush. Clean about and under buildings
and where possible plant green crop.