306 HEALTH, DISEASE AND ENEMIES 



house, especially in the front of it. This should be limed 

 before plowing, and then seeded at least once a year. In- 

 tensive yards should be limed, plowed, and seeded three or 

 four times a year. Conditions are much improved by covering 

 the runs in the winter with a green cover crop. A suitable 

 crop rotation is outlined in Chapter XXIII. 



Clean Feed. — The feeding of clean, wholesome feed is 

 the first step in hygienic management. Moldy or diseased 

 grain should never be given. Such feed may be cheap, but 

 it is not economical. The feed provided, especially meat 

 scrap, should be free from anything poisonous. Feeds of 

 high quality are really the most economical, but less atten- 

 tion should be given to cheapness, and more to efficiency. 

 Sloppy feeds and wet mashes are unwholesome. If used, 

 special care must be exercised to keep the troughs and vessels 

 clean. In feeding milk to poultry the same precaution must 

 be taken. Sour milk is a good feed, but if it stands too long 

 in the pans it becomes unwholesome. When grain is fed 

 to the birds, do not allow it to accumulate in the litter, to 

 be soiled and wasted. The supply should be only what is 

 needed. Grain or mash left in the yards will only become 

 moldy or sour, and be injurious to the birds. 



The providing of fresh, clean water is very important. 

 Water vessels should be rinsed out frequently, and washed 

 with a disinfectant at least once a month. 



The poultry keeper should have all of the tools and equip- 

 ment necessary to properly clean the poultry plant. For 

 even a small flock of birds, he needs a garden hoe, a stiff 

 broom, a rake, a three-tined pitchfork, and a small spray 

 pump. When not in use, they should be cleaned and care- 

 fully put away until wanted again. 



LABORATORY EXERCISES 



Exercise No. 77. — Cleaning the Poultry House. — ^Allow 

 the class to perform all of the operations described as essen- 



