22 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN No. 284 



i. Fresh and infertile eggs from unknown or infected sources should 

 not be fed to chickens or exposed to other animals that may carry or 

 spread the infection. 



j. Poultrymen sliould not custom hatch for untested or infected 

 flocks. 



k. Owners of pullorum disease-free flocks should not have hatching 

 done where infected eggs or stock may be found. 



/. Poultrymen should not buy feed in bags that have been used or 

 exposed to infection. (Such bags if properly disinfected will be safe for 

 further use.) 



in. Poultrymen should not use equipment that has been exposed to 

 or contaminated with infective material. 



83. — Why are sound, effective, and uniform methods of control and 

 eradication necessary? Such methods are necessary to create faith and con- 

 fidence in the eradication results upon which a profitable poultry industry rests. 



84. — Can reliable and uniform methods of eradication be instituted 

 if poultrymen test their own flocks? No. At the present time, no simplified 

 test has been discovered which can be placed in the hands of poultrymen and 

 yet give reliable results. I'niformity of technique and interpretation of results 

 would be sacrificed. The results of a test are no better than the ability and integ- 

 rity of the person conducting the test. 



85. — When should new stock be tested and retained in quarantine 

 before being admitted into the flock? In respect to pullorum disease, new 

 stock received from doubtful sources should be retained in quarantine and pass 

 two negative tests at least four weeks apart before being admitted to the flock. 

 Frequently poultrymen fail to observe this measure and as a result introduce 

 infection into their flocks. The purchase of new stock from doubtful sources is 

 not recommended as a sound practice in poultry husbandry. 



86. — Should birds employed for exhibition and contest purposes be 

 returned to the premises? From the aspect of disease prevention, it is not 

 advisable to return such birds to the flock. However, if for breeding purposes 

 their return is really necessary, then they should be retained in quarantine and 

 pass two negative tests at least four weeks apart before being admitted to the 

 flock. Poultrymen attach too little significance to the introduction of disease 

 through this channel. 



87. — Are any losses associated with testing due to bleeding and hand- 

 ling of birds? Very seldom birds die as a result of loss of blood. A decrease in 

 egg production has been observed in some flocks. However, losses associated 

 with the collecting of blood samples should be negligible if the flock is healthy 

 and properly handled. 



88. — Why is the flock owner requested to report the conditioti of his 

 flock prior to the arrival of the blood collector? The flock owner is requested 

 to report the condition of his flock in order to prevent the unnecessary exposure 

 of the blood collector to disease outbreak^. P'urthermore, the most important 

 reason is to prevent the disturbance of diseased flocks, which is beneficial to the 

 diseased and healthy birds. Delayed notification of the flock condition causes 

 great inconvenience in routing the blood collector and consequently increases 

 the cost of testing. 



