PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 405 



The Use of Disinfectants. The intelligent use of disin- 

 fectants is also effective as a method of destroying germs of 

 disease. There are numbers of these that can be relied upon 

 to do the work desired if the directions furnished are followed, 

 but while they serve their purpose nicely, it should be under- 

 stood that the necessity for their use is reduced or increased 

 as cleanliness is practiced or neglected. When a tolerable 

 degree of cleanliness is constantly maintained, the frequent 

 use of disinfectants will not be necessary, except when disease 

 is prevalent, or unless it is to destroy or prevent the intrusion 

 of lice or mites. Cleanliness of all parts of the house to a 

 degree that insures against ordinary dangers of disease can 

 be acquired by the common mechanical process of cleaning, 

 except in cases of feeding and drinking appliances, which should 

 be scalded or washed in disinfectants occasionally. 



Roost platforms should be cleaned at least twice a week, 

 or daily if convenient, and with the roosts should be treated 

 copiously with a liquid disinfectant which is an insecticide 

 as well as a germicide once a month, and at least twice as often 

 during hot weather. The floor litter should be removed and 

 renewed as often as necessary, which is readily determined by 

 inspection. 



Care of Grounds. The sanitation of the small poultry yard 

 is often a serious problem. When the fowls are kept on the 

 same ground for a considerable length of time, disease germs 

 multiply so rapidly in the filth which accumulates, that the 

 ground becomes so contaminated as to become a menace to 

 health. Where the yards are exceptionally small, poultry- 

 keepers sometimes remove the surface of the soil for fertilizer 

 and replace it with new earth. It is also a common practice to 

 spade up the earth, turning the surface under and bringing 

 fresh soil to the top ; but even when this is done, the ground 

 sooner or later becomes saturated with filth which nurtures 

 germs of disease. 



Fortunately, Nature has provided a way for cleansing filthy 

 ground by means of vegetable growth which may be of service 

 to the poultry-keeper. Wherever possible the back yard poul- 

 try-keeper, or any poultry-keeper who is obliged to use a small 

 area of ground, should take advantage of this fact by dividing 

 his yards, so that while the fowls are running in one, some 

 quick-growing, succulent vegetation, which is at the same time 

 purifying the soil and supplying green food, is being produced 

 in the other. As soon as this vegetation in the second yard 



