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Show FOWL POX WEAKENS NEW LAYING CROPS Disease May Strike at Any Time of Year. Sui-plir-rl by the College of A grlculture, University ot I-jinoii. WNU Service. No matter how high pou'try prices may go next fall and winter, the new crop of layers which farmers farm-ers are now building up will never be profitable if fowl pox gains a foothold. Outbreaks of fowl pox, if promptly prompt-ly diagnosed, may be suppressed by proper cleaning and disinfection of the premises and by destruction of all Infected birds. If a large number num-ber of fowls are Infected, destruction destruc-tion Is not so practical a measure as sanitation coupled with vaccination. vaccina-tion. While the disease may be more frequent fre-quent during the earning fall and winter months, it may occur at any time of the year. Chickens and turkeys tur-keys of all ages are susceptible to fowl pox, but the effects are more serious In young cockerels and pullets than In mature fowls. The death rate In young stock may be high In some outbreaks. Fowls that do recover often are stunted. In pullets that are laying and In older laying stock, the malady lowers production and In some cases stops it entirely. All birds in the flock should be vaccinated If symptoms of the disease dis-ease are detected or if there is danger dan-ger of fowl pox being Introduced Into the flock. Either fowl pox or pigeon pox vaccine may be used, but pigeon pox vaccine is less effective. Its use Is best limited to cases where a severe reaction may cut egg production pro-duction or injure weak birds. Immunity Im-munity to the disease lasts from six months to the life of the bird. The best time for vaccinating flocks on Infected premises Is In late summer, at least two months before the birds begin to lay. Pullets Pul-lets that are to be vaccinated should be given sufficient time to recover completely from the effects of the handling and treatment before entering en-tering production. |