TREATMENT FOR DISEASES OF CHICKENS. 



(Value of Prevention.) 



As a means of profit, poultry raising can be made successful only by main- 

 taining the most vigorous campaign against disease. The best way to carry on 

 this campaign is by preventive measures. Too few people ever think of disease 

 until it makes its appearance, and to ignorance, carelessness and lack of fore- 

 thought in this respect, is due, to a large extent, the prevalence of poultry 

 diseases. 



Fowls are often affected by a number of diseases which spread rapidly 

 through the flock and kill a large part of the birds. They are also infested by 

 different kinds of parasites which live in the crop, intestines, or stomach of the 

 bird and on the surface of the body. These parasites are injurious as they take 

 a part of the nourishment which should be used by the fowl to produce eggs or 

 to put on flesh, and also because their biting and their movements cause irritation 

 to the parts which they attack. 



Important Conditions to Consider. The most important conditions 

 which the poultryman has to consider in an endeavor to keep his fowls in a 

 healthy condition, are the larger parasites to which reference has just been made 

 which causes weakness and loss of flesh and the contagious diseases, which are 

 caused by vegetable and animal germs. These parasites and germs should be 

 kept out of the flock by preventive measures. Disease can be prevented much 

 more easily and with far less expense than it can be cured. A person should 

 therefore study diseases not so much with the idea of knowing how to cure them 

 as knowing how to prevent them. 



Many times medicines can be advantageously applied or given to fowls, 

 however, as a rule, if the patient is not a very valuable bird, it is better to kill 

 it because the time and work required for treatment is worth more than the 

 bird. Again a sick bird may be affected with some contagious disease which 

 may spread through the entire flock before it is recognized. Another reason for 

 killing sick birds is that they are more susceptible to disease than the other birds 

 of the. flock, so they should be culled out in order to establish a strong flock, 

 capable of resisting disease. 



Preventing Disease. 



Elements Necessary. Stock with vigorous constitutions ; proper feeding 

 and housing; absolute cleanliness; start chicks right. 



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