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Show Expert Gives Rules for Raising Successful Chicks Sanitation and proper housing axe the basis of success in raising rais-ing healthy chickens and turkeys. Dr. Wayne Binns, head of the vet-inary vet-inary science department at the Utah State Agricultural college, states. Many of the most prevalent diseases among chicks may be avoided if heat is properly regulated, regu-lated, and houses cleaned often and kept dry. When chicks are put in houses, a constant temperature tempera-ture of 90 or 92 degrees F. should oe maintained under the hover. A higher temperature of 95 degrees de-grees should be maintained for turkey poults, Dr. Binns explains. Temperatures, when being decreased de-creased should be lowered only one degree daily. Chilling, due to un-derheating un-derheating and drafts, and overheating over-heating are equally serious in causing a large number of deaths. Water containers and feeding ' hoppers should be kept from the floor so that the young birds cannot can-not get their feet in them or spill food or water on the floor. One of the most prevalent diseases diseas-es among baby chicks is Pullorum which occurs when the birds are from one to two weeks of age. This disease is brought about by hatching eggs from infested hens or unsanitary houses. Symptoms of IPullorum are dropping wings, a peculiar chirp, and closed eyes. After two weeks infested birds remain as carriers of the disease. Dr. Binns declares that the only cure of this disease is the prevention pre-vention of it. This may be done by obtaining quality chicks and disinfecting the brooder house and letting it stand for two weeks before the birds arrive. An equally acute disease among young birds is Coccidiosis which is most prevalent when the birds are from four to six weks old. Symptoms of Coccidiosis are a poor appetite, resulting in a loss of weight, and bloody droppings when the birds are older. This disease is also caused by unsani. tary houses containing damp liters. lit-ers. Pneumonia is another common com-mon disease by a cold corning from a damp litter. When birds are infested with this disease they should be fed a mash containing 40 percent milk after a brief period remove the milk. The house must be cleaned daily, kept dry, and well ventilated. ventilat-ed. Sick -and dead birds should be removed and burned. At present, pre-sent, no medicine is known to cure coccidiosis Pullorum. Parathyroid, and intestional disease, dis-ease, also takes a large toll among baby chicks, Dr. Binns reports. As in the other cases, prevention of -this disease rests in sanitation. Proper feeding of sufficient green feed makes for the success in raising chicks free from disease. Green feed contains Vitamin "A" which aids in preventing respiratory respira-tory disease such as roop and pneumonia, and digestive diseases. Later when the birds are put on a range they should be kept away from older poultry to prevent worm infestation. The range should always be kept clean and dry. Birds may be sent to the veterinary veter-inary science department at the U.S.A.C. where diseases will be diagnosed and cures suggested. The birds sent should have the typical symtoms of the flock and should be sent while still alive if possible. Dead birds to be diagnosed diag-nosed should be wrapped in paper or packed in sawdust, kept in a cool place, and sent in as soon as possible. |