POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 187, 4 May 1940, Page 18

POULTRY NOTES

Colds And Their Treatment

ISOLATE AFFECTED BIRDS

(By

New Laid.)

The wise poultry-man keeps a close watch on his birds at this season so as to check the advance of colds before serious harm is done. An ordinary cold, is suggested by a watery eye and running nostrils and is generally due to bad ventilation in the house at night, damp litter, overcrowding, or to changeable weather and exposure. Whatever the cause, the first essential is to trace and remove it. It is important to isolate affected birds and* prompt action in this direction may prevent widespread infection and the loss and anxiety it entails. There are many alleged “certain cures” for colds but experience has proved that a treatment may be successful in clearing up one outbreak, while it will fail in another. The “certain cure”, has yet to be found. Early diagnosis is essential and any fowls wheezing or sneezing should be immediately separated from the main flock. If only a few birds are affected, individual treatment, which is the most effective, is possible, but if the trouble spreads, flock treatment becomes necessary. Where only a few birds have to be treated place them in a well-ventilated house, disinfect the drinking water, mak ing it a light red by the addition of permanganate of potash and feed nourishing wet mashes. The nostrils should be syringed* twice daily with a solution of borax and* common salt—one tablespoonful of each in a pint of water. As an alternative dip the beak in a strong solution of permanganate of potash, keeping the nostrils immersed for a few seconds. Should infection extend to the eyes, bathe ■them with a strong, warm solution of permanganate of potash. If they are swollen. open the eyelids with the fingers, then press gentle to remove matter. Should a semi-solid yellowish white mass be found under the lids, it may be possible to remove this with a small probe, such as a matchstick, or by pressing with the fingers. The greatest care must be taken to avoid injury to the eye. In bad cases it may be necessary to lance the part, drain off the matter, swab with a mild disinfectant and dress with tincture of iodine, but this treatment should be avoided if possible.

Spraying the fowls’ throats with turpentine, oil of eucalyptus or paraffin, is of considerable help in the cure and prevention of cofds. Flocks may be treated by spraying over the fowls’ heads at night. With regard to flock treatment all drinking water should be suitably disinfected. Permanganate of potash may be used for this purpose, for it is cheap and easily handled. It will be found more convenient to prepare a strong solution by dissolving Bozs. in a gallon of water and adding this to the drinking water at the rate of five teaspoonsful per gallon, or the following solution may be made up: Dissolve 3oz. powdered sulphate of copper and loz. powdered sulphate of iron in a quart of vinegar. If the outbreak is of a mild type, add loz. of the solution to every gallon of drinking water. If advanced, add 2oz. to each gallon. If dry-mash feeding is practiced, it should be discontinued. Wet mash containing cod liver oil should be feci, while the liberal use of yellow maise in the grain feed is also of value, as it is an excellent source of the protective vitamin A. All food should be given in troughs.

Scientific Breeders’ Advice. In an article on treatment of colds the Scientific Poultry Breeders’ Association says the first part of the treatment when signs of a cold appear is to bathe the whole of the head and mouth with a warm boracic solution (15 grains to each ounce of water). This should be followed by a 2-gr. quinine pill at night and spraying the atmosphere when the birds are perching with a warm disinfectant solution. The drinking water should be made a light red with permanganate of potash. If an ordinary cold is neglected it may turn to roup with the eye swollen and nostrils blocked with mucus. The head, face and mouth should be bathed with warm boracic solution.

Into each quart' of drinking water a small tablespoonful of the following roup mixture should be put: Copper sulphate, 20z.; iron sulphate, loz., and water, 1$ pints. In individual cases give a 5-gr. aspirin tablet three times a day. Add cod-liver oil to the mash, preferably a wet mash fed when still warm.

If a bird is noticed to be “rattling” when it breathes, it is a sure indication it i« suffering from bronchitis. This trouble is best treated by a warm and damp atmosphere; dampness can be ar-

ranged by causing the bird to inhale the vapour from a vessel of boiling water to which has been added a teaspoonful of tincture of iodine. Two grains of black antimony per bird, mixed with the food twice a day, is useful, while if the breathing begins to come in gasps give 10 drops of ipecacuanha wine. The main symptom ol pneumonia is quite different. In this case there is rapid breathing with an up-and-down movement of the whole body. Such a bird should he kept in a hot room and the lower part of each side of the chest should be painted with strong tincture of iodine. If the bird has real dilhculty in breathing, give the following every hour: Spirits of camphor two drops, and brandy 12 drops, in warm milk to make a teaspoonful. Neglect of a cold may bring on diphtheria. the chief symptom of which is tne information of fales, cheesy like membrances in the mouth and throat. Remove and burn the membrances and paint the parts wtih tincture of iodine. Afterward treat as for roup. , After a bird has recovered trom bronchitis it may be noticed that it always breathes with its mouth open. On examination it is usually found that the tip of the tongue has become hard* —a trouble commonly known as pip* The remedy is to moisten the tip of the tongue liberally with glycerine on a wad of cotton wool. On no account should the hard core be pulled off; frequent moistening will cause it to come off naturally.

Test Team Averages 298 Eggs. What is claimed to be a new egg-laying record has been established at Burnley (Victoria) egg-laying test, Mr. J. Herbert’s team of six Australorps laying 1788 first grade eggs in 365 days. Last year another team entered by the same owner laid 1734 eggs. The 1939-40 test was for a period of 48 weeks, but Mr. Herbert’s team remained under test for the full year, laying 122 eggs in the four weeks following the official closing of the test. , , A team of White Leghorns entered by Mr. F. Becker also scored well, producing 1719 full-weight eggs for the year, an average of 2861 eggs a pullet. Last year Mr. Becker’s team of IVbite Leghorns won at Burnley with a score of lu5S firstgrade eggs, despite the fact that two pullets died, and only four of the team completed the test. Mr. D. Grantor’s White Leghorn, which laid 310 eggs in 48 weeks, finished the year with a score of 314, having unfortunately gone into a moult. This was the highest individual score of all breeds at the 19391940 test, but'was 19 eggs behind the record of 333 in 12 months, established by an Australorp entered by Mr. W. Cullen at a former Burnley test.

EGG-LAYING CONTEST

Massey College Results Results to the end of the fourth week of the egg-laying contest being conducted at Massey Agricultural College, are:— SINGLE .PENS Section A. —A. .1. Shailer, W.L., No. 1 (fl), 22; S. D. Morris, W.L., No. 1 (5), 21.; F. p. Longbottom. IV.L., (5), 20; J. A. Annan, AV.L., (6), 10; A. G. Mumby, AV.L., No. 4, 19: G. Clark. AV.L., No. 2 (4), IS; A. G. Mumby, AV.L., iNo. 1 (6), IC>; G. Clark, AV.L., No. 1 (3), 15: H. A. Lucas. AV.L.. No. 1 (*5), 15: B. 13. Wilkinson, AV.L., No. 2 (*1), 15; Argyle Poultry Farm, AV.L., (5). 14; R. E. Boyd, tAV.L., (5). 1*1; A. J. Shailer, W.L., No'. 2 (1), 12; 11. A. Lucas, AV.L., No. 2 (4), 11: S. D. Morris, AA'.L., No. 2 i(2), 11; B. E. Wilkinson. AA’.L., No. 1 (4). 10; V. J. Billington, AV.L., (O), 7: A. A. Hoare, AWL., (4). 7; B. Pimm. AV.L., (0). 4: A. G. Mumby, W.L.. No. 3 (0), 1; A. G. -Mumby, AV.L., No. 2 (0), 0. Section B.—E. O. Collier, Lang., (6), 25; Mrs. R. Willers, A. 0., No. 1 (7), 25: F. Moughan, AO., (fl). 24: L. Mason. R.1.R., No. 2 (7), 23; .1. D. Wealleans, A. 0., (l>), 20: W. A. Larsen, A. 0., No. 1 (5). IS: L. Mason, R.1.R., No. 1 (4). 14; K. Mullins, R.1.R., (5). 9: S. Street. R.1.R., No. 2 «>), 9: T. B. Holdaway, R.I.iR., (5), 8; A. A. (Hoare, R.1.R., (2). 4; P. Mummery, R.I.R. (0), 1; Mrs. R. Willers, A. 0., No. 2. (1), 1; AV. A. Larsen, A. 0., No. 2, (0), 0; B. Pimm, A. 0., (0), 0; S. .Street, R.1.R.. No. 1 (0). 0. TEAMS RESULTS Section C. J. Wilson, AV.L., 19, 20, 20. 24, 21, 24, 20 (35), I*lB. B. E. Wilkinson, W.L., 20, 20, 21, 17, 20, 15. 9 (33), 122. AV. F. i,Stent, W.L., 1,0, 20, 22. 5, 8. 0 (14), 56. Section D. .1. D. Wealleans, A. 0., 3, 22, 17, 13, 0, 24, 22 (24). 101. W. A. Larsen, A. 0.. 14, 17, 2,8, 0. 18. 21 (31), SO. E. AV. Stephenson, A. 0., 1,0, 6,0, (13. 11, 22 ( 20), 53.