POULTRY DISEASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 209, 17 June 1936, Page 6

POULTRY DISEASE.

ADDRE’S‘S T 0 PRODUCERS. THE ASHBURTON BRANCH. A well-attended meeting of the Ash-bu-i ton branch of the Poultry Producers’ Federation was held on Monday evening, the chairman (Mr E. E. ’Scott) presiding. The meeting was addsessed by Mr L. Cocker (Government Poultry Instructor) on a general‘survey of the selecting of strong constitutional birds for the breeding pens, and streSsed that this was very necessary just now, owing to the prevalence of coecidiosis in Christchurch and other districts. This disease was very infectious and might exist in adult birds as well as chickens. Some adult birds might have contracted the disease without any great disturbance to their normal health but these birds become carriers from one season to another and the disease was liable to break out in epidemic form, when favourable conditions existed.

The speaker pointed out that inten~ sive methods of keeping poultry were likely to cause considerable trouble from this class of disease. Ground that had become infected should be rested and exposed to the sun as much as possible and the surface sprinkled with lime. He referred to the hatching and rearing of chickens, and advised producers to follow closely the instructions of the different makers of incubators. He explained the methods to be adopted for the rearing of chickens in brooders, whereby a. large mortality could be avoided.

Various questions were asked Mr Cooker about Johe feeding and rearing of young birds. 0n the motion of Messrs E. T. ’l‘illey and A. J. Garriock a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Cooker on the beneficial and interesting address he had given.