SANITATION 23 



between the sick and the well birds, but, indirectly, 

 through the medium of the soil and roosts on which 

 the birds live, the food that they eat, and the 

 water that they drink. 



The vessels containing the drinking water 

 should, under normal conditions, be thoroughly 

 cleaned and disinfected dailv in hot weather, and 

 once a week the remainder of the vear. When 

 disease is present in the flock, the vessels for 

 drinking water should be cleaned daily, regard- 

 less of the season, and this practice should be con- 

 tinued for several days after all symptoms of the 

 disease have ceased to appear in the flock. Vessels 

 containing water for small chicks should be 

 cleaned daily. 



The cleaning is mainly a matter of thorough 

 washing; the disinfection of drinking vessels can 

 Ijest be accomplished with a five per cent solution 

 (in water) of carbolic acid. 



Chickens tolerate certain antiseptics internally 

 verv well and do not resent the taste of them in 

 drinking water to the extent that other animals 

 do, and it is a wise policy to use antiseptics in the 

 drinking water whenever an infectious disease is 

 present on the premises or when the purity of the 

 water is imder suspicion. 



The most desirable antiseptic to use in the drink- 

 ing water is potassium permanganate. Place a 

 quantity of the crystals in a large bottle or jar 

 and fill with water ; of this solution use sufficient 

 in the drinking water to give it a slight color 

 which will remain for some hours. More water 

 can be added to the stock solution from time to 

 time, as needed, care being taken to keep an ex- 

 cess of the permanganate crystals always in the 

 bottom of the jar. 



