POULTRY HYGIENE AND SANITATION 499 
sitates the use only of fresh, pure feed stuffs, and the avoidance 
of all moldy or musty grains and mashes; the supplying of abun- 
dance of succulent feed at frequent intervals and in small amounts, 
so that none will remain from one feeding time to another and 
become sour. All drinking vessels must be kept sweet and clean, 
and be filled with clean, fresh water. Drinking vessels should be 
washed thoroughly every month with a five per cent zenoleum 
solution. The feeding floor and vessels must be kept clean, espe- 
cially if wet mashes are given. The birds should not be unduly 
forced, as this causes loss of vitality and stamina and makes them 
more likely to contract diseases which the vigorous fowl would 
resist. Health is also promoted by considerable exercise induced 
by the feeding of grain in litter and by having plenty of yard room. 
One of the most common modes by which infectious diseases 
are transmitted to a flock is by means of drinking water from the 
vessels which all usein common. Owing to this fact, it is customary 
to give to flocks, especially if they show any signs of roup or other 
infection, a drinking water containing some harmless antiseptic. 
The best and most common one is potassium permanganate, which 
can be purchased at any drug store for about twenty-five cents 
per pound, and from which a stock solution to full saturation 
should be made, or a solution in which is dissolved as much as 
possible of the crystal, some being left in the bottom of the jar or 
pail. This solution should be tightly stoppered, and a little of it 
can be placed in the fountain each time water is drawn, the pro- 
portion being two teaspoonfuls to ten quarts of water, which will 
give the water a purple color. This is recommended only when the 
birds show signs of colds. 
Clean Yards.—Tainted and filthy yards breed infection which 
transmits disease from one flock to another or from one fowl to 
another in the same flock. The best and safest rule is to have the 
yards as large as possible, for the larger the yard the less the danger 
of excessive filth accumulation. Where there are only small runs, 
the frequent cultivation of these will greatly reduce the possibility 
of spread of infection. The raising of succulent green crops for 
forage will not only dispose of the surface droppings, but will con- 
vert them into crops which the birds can later use for feed. - 
Clean Birds.—If poultry are to be healthy and develop their 
productive powers to the fullest extent, they must be free from 
parasites, both internal and external. The destruction of parasites 
will be considered later. They are merely mentioned here as one 
