2Q 2 PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



cannot be obtained, a good commercial chick scratch grain 

 may be substituted or the grain ration may be made up 

 largely of corn." 



General care of the flock. If the principles of feeding and 

 housing are carried out little further care will ordinarily be 

 necessary. The farm provides a good range in which chickens 

 may forage for themselves, and they will also get plenty of 

 exercise in this way. When confined, as may happen in 

 winter, they should be compelled to take exercise. A good 

 way to afford exercise for them is to spread straw over the 

 ground in the enclosure and scatter grain through it, thereby 

 obliging the chickens to do a good deal of hunting and 

 scratching. 



The health of the flock is an important matter. The first 

 essential is to keep only those individuals showing vigor and 

 strength of constitution. With ordinary care, that is, with 

 good housing, plenty of feed and water, and proper exercise, 

 vigorous fowls are likely to remain healthy. They are, 

 however, sometimes troubled by parasites: a little worm 

 that causes gapes, and body parasites lice and mites. 



The disease known as gapes is caused by small worms that 

 get into the windpipe of the chick. It is often fatal to young 

 chicks, especially if they are weak. As soon as the disease 

 appears, all the well chicks should be removed to fresh 

 quarters in order to avoid infection. The chicks that are 

 affected may each be treated separately. The worms may 

 be destroyed by inserting a drop of turpentine into the wind- 

 pipe of the chick, by means of a quill; or they may be re- 

 moved by twisting a broomstraw or loop of horsehair in the 

 windpipe. The soil in the region of the infection should be 

 plowed or dug up and then thoroughly limed. 



Lice are especially injurious to young chicks and may also 



