'44 Journal of Agriculture, Victo7-ia. [15 Dec, 1919. 



POULTRY AILMENTS. 



By A. r. D. TiiutouJ. Astsistant Paul try Expert, and 11. F. Clinton. 



Prevention is better than Cure. 



The [)riiK'ipal ailments met with by the utilit}^ poultry-keeper< are 

 generally traceable to one or other of the following causes : — - 



1. Faulty Mating. — A decidedly weak point in the present system of 

 conducting egg-laying competitions lies in the fact that far too much 

 attention is paid to the actual score, and comparatively little notice is 

 taken of the constitution of the competing birds. The result is tliat 

 stud sales depend over much on '^ score " pedigrees, and some weedy 

 specimens at times are used as a foundation for future flocks. Score 

 should always be secondaiy to constitution, and mating specimens wliich 

 hick stamina is a distinctly faulty mating, and a predisposing cause of 

 many of the ailments to which poultry are subject. 



2. Improper Feeding. — Over-stimulating foods — frequently concomi- 

 tant with high fecundity— are liable to affect the digestion, cause a high 

 blood pressure, and probably result in liver trouble. 



3. Incorrect Housing. — This is the primary cause of most of the 

 respiratory troubles. Whilst an abundance of fresh air is eminently 

 desirable, a direct draught is highly dangerous. Dampness is equally 

 risky, and is frequently^ brought about by soakage of rain-Avater from 

 the roof. Where spouting is rejected on account of the temporarily in- 

 flated price of galvanized iron, a trench should be cut of sufficient depth 

 to carry away the water and prevent soakage in the fowl-house. 



There are, of course, a number of other factors which influence the 

 well-being of the flock, such as the introduction of fresh stock into the 

 yard without previously isolating such birds for ten days or a fortnight, 

 insanitary methods, overcrowding, &c. As a general rule, birds which 

 have. been sick are not desirable in any of the breeding pens, conse- 

 quently such birds are only worth " table " price, and would not pay for 

 treatment more highly skilled than that which the experienced poultry- 

 man can give. The tale is told of a ,<tudent who, on being questioned 

 on the treatment of some more or less complicated ailment, abruptly 

 replied, " Axe, quicklime." It must be admitted that an outbreak may 

 often be averted by the prompt destruction of an afi^ected bird, and whilst 

 simple treatment for various complaints is suggested, the question, "Is 

 it worth while trying to save?" should invariably be carefully con- 

 sidered on the poultry farm. A few pens should be provided on every 

 ))oultry farm for isolation purposes, and the moment any signs of sick- 

 ness appear the bird should promptly be isolated. Common indications 

 of approaching illness are recorded by Pearl and Curtis as folloAvs : — 



Symptoms. Ailittnifs thereby indicated. 



Abdomen swollon .. Pei'itonitis; dropsy; white diarrhoea. 



Abnormal breathinir .. Respiratory diseases; arsenical poisoning; 



gapes. 



Choking . . Arsenic poisoning. 



Comb pale .. ... Tubcrciilosi.s ; dropsj', white diarrhoea. 



Comb dark .. Liver disease; congestion of the hings; black- 



head. 



