Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 12, Number 9, DeMotte, Jasper County, 8 January 1942 — When Chickens Have Bad Colds What Do You Do? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

When Chickens Have Bad Colds What Do You Do?

Simple Precautions Help Protect Flock’s Health. Whenever you have a bad cold you try to get lots of rest, keep warm, perhaps take a mild laxative, and eat foods rich in vitamins, because you have found these things aid nature in throwing off the cold. It's just as possible to help a hen throw off her cold, according to Grafton Lothrop. head of the Sanitation Department, Purina Mills. “Although no one seems to know just what causes colds in humans, research in recent years has demonstrated that colds in chickens are caused by a specigfic germ infection. Unfavorable surroundings such as poorly ventilated, drafty houses or exposure to cold wet weather will reduce the resistance of a flock and render it more susceptible to this infection. The need for good care, adequate nutrition and a sanitation program which will help prevent the introduction of this infection is readily apparent." Colds in chickens as a rule begin with a thin nasal discharge followed by a collection of cheesy material in the sinuses of the head and a swelling about the eyes. The affected birds shows a loss of i'lis. cite, falls off in production and body weight., and becomedroopy. If infectious colds should break out in your flock, Lothrop suggests the following seven-point poultry sanitation program—1. Eliminate drafts, dampness and crowding. , 2. Scrub fountains with a stiff brush daily and disinfect with a Chlorena solution. 3. Give tiie birds a mild flush if it appears in rosary, 4. Clean tiie poultry house thoroughly and .disinfect with a Cre-■so-fec solution. Supply plenty of dry litter Immediately remove the sick birda and burn tivGsc which die. ts When evidence of colds is first observed. G0.. - ' the house and dust the birds with Chlorena Powder until they sneeze freely, i Repeat with light dustings daily until the birds show improvement. 7. Keep the birds on full feed. If, feed consumption drops, feed 1 ■ Layena checkers at • night. To further increase feed consumption it may be advisable to add to the laying mash an appetizer like Chek-R-Ton. Editor’s Note: Chlorena, Cre-so-fec and Chek-R-Ton are handled by our local distributor for flock owners to help control the colds that may develop In their chickens. He has complete directions lor their use.