POULTRY HYGIENE AND SANITATION 499 



Bitates the use only of fresh, pure feed stuffs, and the avoidance 

 of all moldy or musty grains and mashes; the supplying of abun- 

 dance of succulent feed at frequent intervals and in small amounts, 

 so that none will remain from one feeding time to another and 

 become sour. All drinking vessels must be kept sweet and clean, 

 and be filled with clean, fresh water. Drinking vessels should be 

 washed thoroughly every month with a five per cent zenoleum 

 solution. The feeding floor and vessels must be kept clean, espe- 

 cially if wet mashes are given. The birds should not be unduly 

 forced, as this causes loss of vitality and stamina and makes them 

 more likely to contract diseases which the vigorous fowl would 

 resist. Health is also promoted by considerable exercise induced 

 by the feeding of grain in litter and by having plenty of yard room. 



One of the most common modes by which infectious diseases 

 are transmitted to a flock is by means of drinking water from the 

 vessels which all use in common. Owing to this fact, it is customary 

 to give to flocks, especially if they show any signs of roup or other 

 infection, a drinking water containing some harmless antiseptic. 

 The best and most common one is potassium permanganate, which 

 can be purchased at any drug store for about twenty-five cents 

 per pound, and from which a stock solution to full saturation 

 should be made, or a solution in which is dissolved as much as 

 possible of the crystal, some being left in the bottom of the jar or 

 pail. This solution should be tightly stoppered, and a little of it 

 can be placed in the fountain each time water is drawTi, the pro- 

 portion being two teaspoonfuls to ten quarts of water, which will 

 give the water a purple color. This is recommended only when the 

 birds show signs of colds. 



Clean Yards. — Tainted and filthy yards breed infection which 

 transmits disease from one flock to another or from one fowl to 

 another in the same flock. The best and safest rule is to have the 

 yards as large as possible, for the larger the yard the less the danger 

 of excessive filth accumulation. Where there are only small runs, 

 the frequent cultivation of these will greatly reduce the possibility 

 of spread of infection. The raising of succulent green crops for 

 forage will not only dispose of the surface droppings, but will con- 

 vert them into crops which the birds can later use for feed. 



Clean Birds. — If poultry are to be healthy and develop their 

 productive powers to the fullest extent, they must be free from 

 parasites, both internal and external. The destruction of parasites 

 will be considered later. They are merely mentioned here as one 



