Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-04-09
Reduce Loss in
Poultry F'locks
Great Importance Of Main
tanning Fowls in Health
full Condition.

The losses sustained recently by the
poultry industry of the United States
because of infectious bronchitis and
European fowl pest, and the conse-
quent state embargoes, guarantees
and shipping regulations, have en-
phasized the supreme Importance of
maintaining the fiocks on the farms
and in commercial poultry plants in as
healthful condition as possible, says
the United States Department of Agri-
culture. The unhampered shipment Of
birds from state to state is dependent
upon healthy fowls. The prevalence of
infectious bronchitis and European
fowl pest in certain centers necessi-
tated restrictive measures to protect
the fiocks in other centers.
The question OF immediate and, it
might be said, constant concern, is
how to maintain the focks in a condi-
ton of good health. Factors that stand
out as being Of equal vital i'm
portance, says the department, are:
a. Stock Of sound constitutional
.vigor; (2) the maintenance of sanitary
surroundings.
Stock TO Keep.
Laying and breeding stock that Is
not only healthy, but also possesses
abundance of constitutional vigor is
the only kind that should be kept. The
removal Of birds from the flock at the
first indication of a debilitated condi-
fion or sickness is necessary precau-
4i0n against loss. In case Of an APP
parent outbreak of disease, consult
qualified veterinarian or pathologist or
send affected specimens with COM
plete description Of the symptoms to
your state agricultural college or the
state sanitary authorities.
Since the welfare of the healthy
members of the flock is of far greater
Importance than that of a few sick
birds, it is important to look after the
healthy birds first. The thing to do
after the sick birds are culled out Of
the flock is to clean out and disinfect the
poultry house, spray with disinfecting
solution any possibly contaminated
parts of the poultry establishment and
AICdhoC LlOlOuSh1y Oil ACCuAA5 cAu
drinking utensils.
If treatment Of sick birds is advis-
able, keep them confined while being
treated. Quarantine birds suffering
from contagious disease until all dam
ger Of communicating the rest of the
flock is passed In many cases in an
outbreak of disease it is better to kill
the affected birds at once and burn
them or bury them deeply. In no case
should diseased or exposed birds be
sold
One factor contributing to the some
what aggravated disease conditions
prevalent in poultry rattening stations
live-poultry cars and live-poultry re-
sceiving centers, appears to be the rails
Ing of late-hatched chicks. Last sea-
son the early matches in many parts
of the country were poor and chick
mortality was heavy; resort was made
to Matching late and this situation I'M
.doubtedly had some influence on the
general vitality of much Of the young
stock raised because late-hatched
chicks rarely do as well as early
matched chicks.
CuIIing Laying FIocks.
The culling of laying f1ocks has been
practiced for number Of years in
practically all parts of the country
and, as a result, the laying qualities
of the focks have been greatly i'm
proved. Culling also has led to a bet
1q 0.IvOk he
surplus hens. Formerly almost all of
the old hens were marketed late in
the fall and early in the winter, where
as now culling permits Of marketing
the poorer layers over longer sea-
son. While the practice of culling
lthe laying stock is based on eliminat-
ing the poor layers, it is possible that
sometimes there is a tendency to mar
ket hens in unthrifty condition and
sometimes hens in poor health, prac-
tice which cannot be too emphatically
condemned Only the slipshod farmer
will m&<ket hens in poor flesh.
Sanitation is a very important factor
In keeping down disease in poultry
flocks. The land used for poultry
should be kept free from contamina-
ton by regular cultivation and the
growing of grass, clover or some other
kind of crop will keep land used by
the flock free from contamination.
Some poultrymen lime their soil an
nuaIly. 1t is, of course, necessary to
keep poultry houses clean at all times
ana well Uttered with clean, dry straw.
Houses. to be kept free from damp
ness, need good ventilation, but drafts
are to be avoided. Overcrowding tends
to weaken the vitality of the stock,
ard careful poultrymen allow three or
four square feet of floor space per
bird. The poultry house requires thor
ough disinfection at frequent intervals
with per cent solution of Gre
sol compound, U. S. p, or a 5 per
cent carbolic acid solution. Where
these disinfectants are used the fowls
should not be marketed until the odor
of the disinfectant has completely dis
appeared.
If the poultrymen will take proper
precautions to keep only vigorous lay
Ing and breeding stock and in main
tanning sanitary surroundings it will
tend to keep their stock healthy and
this will, to a considerable degree, de-
crease the losses from disease.
Finally, 1t is Of the utmost Import
ance, from monetary standpoint, to
Aaap fatfonin0 Sfafionc Youl+rr oorc