POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 18

POULTRY NOTES

• NICOTINE SULPHATE FOR WORMS “Dangerously Heroic Doses” in N.Z. , (By “New Laid.”) In recent years the powerful, poisonous drug, nicotine sulphate, has come into common use as a vermicide. Carefully and intelligently handled, it does much good, nicotine being very effective in attacking round-worms, and, while not entirely effective in the treatment of tapeworms, it tends to control these parasites. The nicotine alkaloid and its salts, such as the sulphate, are potent poisons and in using nicotine sulphate for de-worming great care must be exercised in measuring the correct dose, otherwise there is likely to be trouble. Used correctly, says Mr. Norman D. Kay, F. lust. T.C., discussing in "Poultry” the various methods of treating and i>reventing round-worms, nicotine sulphate is -absolutely safe for fowls, but, like other potent drugs, it must not be abused by indiscriminate use. “Unfortunately,” says Mr. Kay, “there is a considerable difference of opinion among poultry advisers as to the optimum dose. In New Zealand, for instance, they seem to take risks with dangerously herois doses, sue'n as one fluid ounce per 100 head of stock. In California, U.S.A., on the other hand, i fluid ounce is used for 250 fowls, which is equivalent to only 90 minims (a little over three-quarters of a dessertspoonful) per 100, and other authorities suggest various other doses. The Safe Optimum Dose. Bearing the above differences of opinion in mind and realising the confusion they must create in the minds of poultrykeepers, Mr. Kay recently conducted a series of experiments with fowls known to be infested with round worms, and found that the safe optimum dose for commercial breeds of poultry is intermediate between the above extremes. That dose is 2.4 minims per adult fowl, which is j fluid oune'e of nicotine sulphate per 109 head, which errs on the safe side. Pullets under 21b. live body weight should receive only one half the above dose — that is 1.2 minims pex- pullet or -J fluid ounce per 100 head. If the first dose with these moderate quantities is not wholly effective it is quite easy to repeat the treatment.—say, in two weeks’ time, and in any case two such treatments are ultimately a more lasting eradication. To use nicotine sulphate correctly the fowls must first be starved. The day before de-worming they should be given a generous feed of mash early in the morning, and then nothing but water containing joz. of Epsom salts to the gallon, to make the kidneys function effectively. To treat 100 adult fowls measure out half a fluid ounce of nicotine sulphate (guaranteed 40 per cent.). Although this quantity is approximately one tablespoonful, spoons should never be used, as they are so variable in capacity—purchase a medicine glass. One tablespoonful in that measure -will be an accurate half fluid ounce, and one dessertspoonful (for pullets) will be quarter fluid ounce. Next, weigh out 101 b. of mash ingredients according to your ordinary mash formula, which allows just under 2oz. to each fowl. Add the joz. of nicotine sulphate to one-half the required mixing-water (cold), and then dissolve lib. of cane sugar in every half-gallon. Mix the wet mash, with the combined nicotine and sugar solution, adding additional water as necessary to form a moist crumbly mash. It is necessary to do the mixing with great thoroughness. Supply this mixture to the fowls well spread out in a long 'trough, giving every fowl a fair chance to obtain its full quota. After that dissolve, in this case, 4oz. salts in each gallon of drinking water, and leave it before the fowls until it is all consumed. After the fowls have received their medicated mash it may be notie’ed that they stagger' a little and gasp- for breath. This symptom of nicotine intoxication, which does not always happen, will soon pass away, but iu any odd case' where an accidental overdose is given, add half a teaspoonful of powdered tannie acid (30 grains) to every gallon of drinking water, and at night give another wet mash containing 3oz. powdered ginger to every 100 fowls. No form of de-worming should be conducted in cold, wet or windy weather —a warm, fine day should be selected. Tobacco Dust —Simple and Safe. In the course of his review of the numerous methods of treating stock infected with round worms, Mr. Kay remarks that in his opinion the use of tobacco dust offers the best wny of countering the pest, but tobacco dust varies greatly in quality and care must be taken to get a dust having a reasonably high quantity of both nicotine alkaloid and essential oil. The reason why tobacco diist occasionally fails, says Mr. Kay, is because of the variation in nicotine content. He urges the need of a standardised product varying only within reasonable limits. If a standardised tobacco dust could be obtained at a reasonable price it would, in the opinion of Mr. Kay, be the best round-worm cure and preventive for general all-the-year-round use. To treat 100 fowls lib. of good quajity tobacco dust should be covered with warm water, but not boiling, and allowed to stand over-night. In the morning the whole should be mixed in one-half the usual quantity of wet mash and fed to the previously-fasted fowls. Three hours later the remaining half of the wet mash should be mixed, including lOoz. salts, The operation should be repeated in ten days’ time. This, says Mr. Kay, offers the .simplest, safest, and most generally economical method. Tobacco dust is not only useful as a vermicide or cure —it is equally valuable as a preventive for continuous use. For that purpose it may be added to the daily mash after the actual de-worming has been completed in order to keep the fowls free from worms, or it may be given to the chickens from the weaning stage when they pass from the brooder. One per cent, should be given at first, and then gradually increased to a constant mash content of 2 per cent. This enables both young and matured fowls to develop a tolerance for the tobacco, just as humau beings do for tobacco smoking. Dogs and Poultry Worrying. The New Zealand Poultry Board has decided to ask that certain provisions of the Dog Registration Act, 1908, which apply to any dogs found attacking any horse, sheep or cattle, be amended so as to include poultry. The New Zealand Act was based on the then existing English Act, but in 1928 ihe British Parlia ment passed an amending Act which makes dog owners liable where poultry are worried or killed by dogs. It. is hoped that the representations now being made by the board will result in a similar amendment of the New Zealand Act. Falling Production. Many poultry-keepers, failing to recog nine the significance of a fall in production during December, commence to make changes, being under the impression that it is due to some fault in the ration. Such action, writes Mr. Jas. Hadlington in the “Sydney Morning Herald,” only accentuates the trouble and results in many birds falling into moult much earlier than perhaps would otherwise be the case. The fact is that a general falling-off in laying commences in November aud continues until May, falling month by month As far as hens over a year old are concerned, it is only in eases where there has been gross under feeding previously that there is any chance of speeding up production by making changes, and even then a large part of the flock is more likely to go into moult than lay more eggs.' Therefore at this time of the year the fewer changes made the better, whether in food or environment.