184 Brooder Pneumonia 



BROODER PNEUMONIA 



Fungus Poisoning Due to Moldy Straw and Feed, (Lungers,) 

 {Brooder Pneumonia,) or {Asper Gillosis.) 



Fungus poisoning is a disease effecting baby chicks and mature 

 birds. It is most frequent in lots that are damp and where artificial 

 heat is used because steady heat is favorable to fungi development. 

 This mold exists everywhere in nature and multiplies when proper condi" 

 tions such as heat, moisture, etc., present themselves. It is frequent on 

 musty chaff and straw as well as moldy feed, (because button like eleva- 

 tions or inflammation does not develop, do not conclude the trouble is 

 not in the feed. Moldy feed will cause other digestive and poisonous 

 disorders). Lungers may kill few or many chicks and due to its symp- 

 toms, may be mistaken for white diarrhoea. 



The effected birds become feverish, droopy, sleepy, sniffle, some- 

 times breathing is difficult and has associated with it a wheezing noise. 

 Brain disorders or paralysis sometimes develop. A diarrhoea, at first 

 whitish in color, but later changing to a yellowish color, often develops 

 before death. It can be seen by comparison, that these symptoms are not 

 easily to separate from ordinary or white diarrhoea. Fortunately, this 

 is properly a disease effecting the mucous membrane of the mouth, 

 throat, lungs and intestines and can be easily distinguished from ordi- 

 nary or white diarrhoea by the nodular elevations of the mouth, throat, 

 intestines and lungs. These elevations in advanced cases give off a 

 whitish or yellowish discharge. In the body cavity, the chicks will often 

 have growths of mold. Neither the nodular elevations or mold growths 

 are present in ordinary or white diarrhoea. 



TREATMENT 



Preventing the use of musty chaff and straw either in the nests or 

 brooder houses is better than any known treatment, after the chicks get 

 brooder pneumonia. Do not feed moldy feeds. After chicks become 

 effected, some relief may be given by painting the inflamed mucous mem- 

 brane of the mouth or throat with flowers of sulphur or tincture of iodine. 



