RELIABLE POULTRY REMEDIES 



in moderate sized yards which can easily be thoroughly disinfected. The 

 fences of these yards should be portable, preferably panels of wire fenc- 

 ing which can be readily moved from place to place. The chicks should 

 be moved to new ground frequently. Before the chicks are put in a yard 

 or run the ground should be thoroughly disinfected, either by a heavy 

 top dressing of air slaked lime plowed under, or, drenching with a two per 

 cent sulphuric acid solution with turning over of the soil afterwards. This 

 must be done both before the chicks use the ground and immediately after 

 they are moved from it. When possible to do so, it will be well to start 

 a little crop of oats, rye or other quick growing grain in the yards or runs 

 before the chicks use them. 



The coops and boxes used by the chicks must be thoroughly cleaned 

 and kept clean. They should be well whitewashed on the inside with good 

 hot whitewash twice a month during the chick season, and the wash will 

 be stiU more effective if a tablespoonful of creoUn is added to each bucket- 

 ful of whitewash just before applying. The interior of all coops and boxes 

 should be exposed to the sun and air for several hours every day when the 

 sun shines. Coops or boxes having removable roofs are most desirable, 

 so that the whole interior can be given a thorough sunning. Dampness 

 and all accumulations of filth must be avoided if the disease is to be pre- 

 vented. 



Treatment 



The most satisfactory treatment is prevention of contagion, com- 

 bined with extraction of the worms from the infected chicks. All sick 

 birds should be removed to quarters apart from the well ones. All coops 

 and runs where infected birds have been should be thoroughly disinfected. 

 The coops should have a thorough application of hot whitewash. The 

 ground of runs should be well lined with air slaked lime, spaded up and 

 should be sprinkled with one of the following solutions: A two per cent 

 solution of sulphuric acid in water; or two ounces of copperas (sulphate of 

 iron) dissolved in a bucket of water; or a solution of permanganate of pot- 

 assium in water, half an ounce of the crystals in a barrel of water; or a strong 

 solution of creolin, two tablespoonfuls in each gallon of water. 



The ground should be well sprinkled with one of the above solutions, 

 after infected chicks have been removed, then plow or spade and_sprinkle 

 again. Repeat this disinfection whenever infected chicks have been run- 

 ning on the ground. Scald all drinking vessels used by sick birds, and be 

 sure that the water used is boiling. If there are many earthworms and 

 slugs in ground which has been occupied by chicks with gapes, get rid of 

 the worms with one of the patented- worm exterminators sold by nearly 

 all seedmen. Always burn all chicks which die of the gapes, and whenever 

 you find gape worms, or extract them from sick chicks, be sure to burn 

 the worms. Disinfect all droppings. Earthworms do not cause gapes, 

 but may become contaminated with the eggs or embryonic gape worms 

 and so become a source of infection in ground -where the disease has existed. 



A small piece of copperas placed in the drinking water is said to pre- 



10 



