Milford chronicle., 1927-01-21

POultrymen should remember that
the drOppings of fowls are fairly
teeming with millions and millions
of germs too small to be seen with
out the aid of miscroscope, and
these germs, even from apparently
healthy fowls, are sometimes capable
Of producing serious and fatal dis
ease, among it's fellows, while the
drOppings from all sick birds are
possibly the greatest source of dam
j ger in the spread of disease. The
drOppings from fowls cannot be con-
sidered as so much inert matter. The
amount of excreta of a hen sick with
fowl pest, that would adhere to a pin
point or the eye of needle, if plac-
ed in their drinking fountain and al
lowed to stay there, would probably
destroy every bird in the flock. Ev-
cry pOultryman knows how drinking
fountains and feed hoppers are con-
taminated with droppings from the
feet of chicks or otherwise. Not only
disease germs, but worm eggs are
carried the same way. When you
know how diseases are transmitted,
then the control is easier.
The question arises: How can the
disease germs be destroyed before
they are taken in by the entire flock ?
There are a number of good disin-
fectants. A disinfectant, you know, is
anything that will completely kill
germs. In order for disinfectant to
be effective, it must get in actual
contact with the germ. And right
here, comes the most important point
in disinfecting any poultry house. 1t
is absolute folly to scatter a little
lime or any other disinfectant over
about two or three inches of manure
and feel you have done your duty.
You will do Just as much good if
you throw it up in the air in a wind
storm. 1t is absolutely necessary
that the place be cleaned first, and
cleaned thoroughly. This includes
the removal of the drOppings, litter,
straw in the nests, and all trash and
rubbish. The litter straw, trash, and
rubbish should be burned, while the
droppings should be moved to a re-
mot part of the premise where pOul-
try do not run, and eventually plow-
ed under.
After the refuse is removed, an
excellent thing to do is scrub as
much of the interior as possible,
with boiling water, before applying
the disinfectant. This will destroy
a great many worm eggs. 1t is well
at this time to clean out feed hop
pers and drinking fountains and
scrub them thoroughly with hot wa
ter. Now, if the house is infested
with lice and mites, an excellent
spray is the kerosene emulsion, to
which has been added crude cresol
or crude carbolic acid, in the pro-
portion of 1 pint of either to two
gallons of smulsion. The emulsion
is made by shaving one-half pound
of hard laundry soap, to one-halt
gallon of soft water, and boil until
the mixture is dissolved. Remove
from fire, and while still hot, add
two gallons of kerosene, stirring
constantly, then add one pint of Ell
ther of the disinfectants mentioned
above. In spraying, use one quart of
this mixture to nine quarts of wa
ter, and thoroughly saturate the in
terror. Use considerable force so as
to penetrate the cracks and crevices.
To disinfect soil, put one gallon OF
1-1OOO solution of bichloride of mer-
curry, on each ten square feet of
ground, and keep all poultry away
for at least one week.
If you do not care to use the
emulsion, put 1pint of either of the
disinfectants mentioned to 4 gallons
water and spray. This will make a
solution of sufficient strength, which
is very important.