Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19734, 31 December 1926, Page 21 (Supplement)

Poultry Notes

ABOUT DISEASES The Best Roup Cure The serum method of curing ronp the best, but it is also possible to troajß the birds by administering copper sul-i phate, the quantity being as much as will go on a shilling to one gallon of water. This will not kill the if it is made strong enough to do this it will kill the bird also; but it will prevent the germ developing in the drinking water. It is the basis of many roup powders, particularly, the pink ones. It is necessary t€ feed well any birds attacked by roup. Half the cases of so-called roup can be traced to poor feeding, which will develop similar symptoms although it is not the same. A diet which is deficient in certain elements, particular animal abuminoids. will cause it. A bird which has had liver chill 01 other slight liver 8 disorders will bo quite all right when cured. Liver complaint is distinguished by a blueish comb and a disinclination to cat. Turkey rhubarb is one of the finest things for liver troubles, a dose being ten drops for a bird weighing 4 to 4J lbs., and fifteen drops for one weighing 6 to 7 lbs. This -type of disease is called, “functional,” and there are no ill after effects from it.

Concerning bacillary white diarrhoea, Ido not wish 1o say much. There arc other diarrhoeas amongst chickens, and if they get b.w.d. there is usually some thing else with it. Perchloride of mercury is the best treatment, but sour milk is also splendid. A third type of disease may be classed as “parasitic,” which constituted body lice. This can readily be overcome, but fowls frequently get inoculated with a disease through the spreading of lice. When hatching with incubators and brooders we never get trouble, with these. Another pest to be fought is red mite, and where you get red mite you do not. get eggs. Creosote is the best method of ridding houses of insects, but it rs not sufficient to* treat the perches alone; the roof and every crack in the building must be - done. I have gone through houses at night with a, bright light anil seen the walls teeming with red mite, yet in the day time not a trace could be found unless the perches were moved out of their sockets. Worms is another paras.tic disease, caused through foul ground. The remedy is to change birds on to fresh ground and disinfect \v,cll. Some Good Disinfectants In disinfecting we must use something of which we know the strength, and which will act against bacteria. Izal, taking loz. Io 1 gallon w-.f water, will kill disease germs, and prevent them developing, but a teaspoonful to the same amount, of water will not do so. Carbolic acid, 4ozs, to 1 gallon of water or whitewash. Permanganate of potaslushould be prepared by dissolving in water as much as the water will take up, amT adding two teaspoonsful of this to 1. pint of water, which makes thoroughly good agent for cleansing, or if i required for drinking water, jse half the quantity. Izal for diphtheritic roup should bo one teaspoonful to one pint water. If stronger it is apt. to create a shock, and the bird might, die. Boracic acid, two drachms to one pint of water, is a very useful wash I before, applying any remedy. Di-chloramine for syringing in cases I of roup is very good; its nature enab- fl ling it to have effect a long time after I being applied. fl Zinc sulpho carbonate one-eighth fl to a. quart of water makes good disinfectant. ? In dealing with prolapses, the pro- 1 trading part would never keep back) whilst foreign matter was present, so| that it was necessary to disinfect the| part first; never apply oil in these/ cases, but zinc ointment, permanganate of potash, or even strong cold tea helps to keep it back. Diseases can bo communicated to chickens through eggs being packed in mouldy hay. Scaly leg is best cured by paraffin, or 10 per cent, salicylic acid and vaseline.