TREATMENT OF GAPES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18617, 12 July 1930, Page 13

TREATMENT OF GAPES.

“I have some young fowls affected with the gapes,” writes “L.P.” to the “Dominion.” “The stock book that I have describes the disease as a small red worm clinging to the windpipe, and gives various precautionary advice, but no advice as to curing the ones already affected. Could you advise me in the matter?”

Gapes is a disease which usually affects chickens between the ages of one and three months. Its chief symptom

? s tnat ot the chick opening ana shutting its mouth. It is due, as L.P. states. to a thread-like parasite worm which affects the windpi]3® and causes the chick to gasp for breath. When discovered the coops or brooder houses should be well disinfected, and the outside runs well limed, dug, and sown down. The affected bird’s should be removed to fresh quarters. Discussing this disease, the Government poultry instructor, Mr. C. Brown, states that a small feather stripped stripped of all but the tip and dipped in Condy’s fluid, thrust' down the windpipe and turned round, will often assist in effecting a cure. Always burn all chicks which die of gapes, and any worms that are extracted. Care must also be taken to disinfect all droppings. WATER FOR CHICKENS. It is certain that a large percentage of the complaints and death of chickens and of grown fowls are due to the drinking of impure water, states “Utility Fancy” in the Dunedin “Star.” As a rule the drinking vessels are too large with the result that so long as there is enough water in them for the fowls it is thought unnecessary to renew the supply. Sufficient for the day and in a small vessel, which can be easily cleaned, is the best way to serve water to fowls. There is less time and labour (a trouble) wasted in filling and cleaning a small vessel than in the case of a large one, and being small the attendant knows that it is compulsory to attend to the water supply daily. As regards chickens in particular, for the rearing season will soon be here, they have naturally an insatiable thirst if allowed to develop it. Naturally they have not got it, being as they are descendants of jungle brds accustomed to go for days without water. If kept without water for a month (which I do ndt recommend) they have been known to thrive well. The presentday authorities recommend the giving of water from the first day to chickens, and to be orthodox I, as a rule, do the same; but as an experiment I have tried keeping water from chicks for three weeks, and must admit that they did well, suffered no diarrhoea, were never blown out, and grew hardy and strong. It is surprising the amount of slime that gathers daily' on the sides of the poultry drinking vessel. If after emptying it you pour a little water and then with a brush rub around the sides, the way in which the rinsing water becomes soiled tells you that every time the chick or fowl drinks it carries foul matters to the water, and it should satisfy anyone that if this foul matter is allowed to accumulate around the sides and bottom of the vessel for even a few days it must be a source of danger to the health of the birds.