CHAPTER XXXI 



COMMON POULTRY DISEASES 



Poultry are attacked by various diseases, several of 

 which are highly contagious. Some affect individuals only, 

 and are not readily transmitted from one member of the 

 flock to another. The majority are caused by unsuitable 

 environment. Disease can, in large measure, be prevented 

 by careful attention to two factors: First, by securing 

 healthy birds of strong vitality, which offer considerable 

 resistance to disease. Second, by giving them suitable 

 environment. Vigorous birds in sanitary quarters are almost 

 immune to any kind of infection. 



There is always danger of disease appearing, but a careful 

 lookout for symptoms will usually check it before it has 

 made much headway. At the first signs of disease all of 

 the birds should be carefully inspected to determine how 

 prevalent it is; and if at all dangerous, and there is a possi- 

 bility of its spreading, all of the birds affected should be 

 isolated (Fig. 171). The poultryman may not know the 

 character or nature of the disease, but he can study it by 

 isolating the birds, and comparing their symptoms with 

 descriptions found in a good text-book on the subject. When 

 he is sure of the nature of the malady, he should take immedi- 

 ate steps to prevent its further spread by instituting curative 

 treatment. The medicinal treatment of poultry is generally 

 very expensive, and unsatisfactor}-. It is much better to 

 create conditions in which disease germs will not develop 

 than to attempt to cure disease due to unhealthful conditions. 

 The object of this chapter is to deal, in a very elementary 

 way, with a few of the common and simple diseases of poultry, 

 and the student should supplement this by referring to a 

 comprehensive text-book on the subject. 

 308 



