CHAPTER II 
HYGIENE AND SANITATION 
SECURING HEALTHY STOCK 
In establishing a flock of poultry it is highly important that pre- 
cautions be taken to prevent the introduction of disease with the 
original stock. It is a common desire among beginners, to con- 
sider purchasing adult birds, in order to secure speedy returns. It 
should be borne in mind that the number of instances in which 
healthy young pullets may be purchased is comparatively rare. Too 
often hens are sold because they are old and past the best laying 
period, or because the flock has become unprofitable because of some 
disease. Fowl cholera, avian tuberculosis and diphtheria are com- 
monly introduced by the purchase of adult stock. 
Starting a flock from hatching eggs or day old chickens ‘is the 
least dangerous method of introducing stock but there remains the 
danger of introducing white diarrhea. 
RELATION OF SOIL TO HEALTH 
Well drained soil is desirable in that the presence of moisture 
and mud is minimized. A wet soil favors parasites. Least desir- 
able for poultry yards is sticky clay or adobe. In wet weather the 
latter soil collects on the toes of chickens in the form of balls so 
large as to impede walking. Chickens kept on such soil require 
individual treatment to free the toes, and in doing this they are 
liable to be injured. 
The continued use of a given area of soil for poultry, results 
in its becoming excessively infested with the eggs of various para- 
sites and consequently a source of danger to the birds kept thereon. 
Therefore, it is highly desirable that chickens be not kept on the 
same soil year after year. 
The problem of securing fresh areas for chickens is solved in 
various ways. Where the chicken house is a permanent, immov- 
able structure, yards may be fenced off on either side and used in 
alternate years. When birds are kept under the colony system, the 
structures necessary for the fowls are built on skids. A team may 
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