Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-08-04
Poultry House aud yermin.

cles in the way of success ia this bust
ness are vernin and colds. The costly
house affords no protection against
either. OF the three kinds Of insects
which infest the common fowl, the mite
is .he worst aad hardest 10 get rid OF.
The icuse, body or feather. is rolled oil
in the dust bath, and may be killed or
driven awaF BIZ applying Persian insect
powder to the fowl; and besides, they
seldom breed in such numbers as to
completely oyerrun fowl. But the
mite breeds in the house and not on the
fowl; doesn't even appear to need the
presence OF fowl to continue in life
and propagate. Ii is analogous TO the
bed bug and partakes OF its habits IN
attacking its victims while at roost and
leaving them when they are out again
in the morning. This is the insect
which is so destructive 10 sitting hens;
they have no chance TO be free from II
in the DAYTIME A thorough busting
with Persian insect powder once or
twice week. is a great help 10 the men.
but IL does not destroy the myriads
which dwell in every crack in n board,
or Joint between, or the crevices OF a
stone wall which frequently forms the
foundation OF the house. The first time
the hen leaves her nest she shakes the
insectieide from her feathers, and then
the insects renew their depredations.
The sitting period, a. every poultry
man knows, quite frequently tears
hen MI to pieces; she cones out of it
mere skeleton, the large high-colored
comb which she carried when she began
her task is sickIy and shriveled. and the
bright color faded out. Her feathers
are in abou; the same condition. This
destruction of the hen is not necessary,
rs many hen will prove that has sat
her three weeks in some out of-the-wav
place at a distance from the poultry
house. She has lost weight, her comb
aud feathers are somewhat dull aud
smudgy, but week OF two will put her
in condition again. Few chicks are
Matched in infested nests; the hens can't
sit closely enough to keep up the requi-
site temperature. The constant twist
ing about OF the head 20 pick the bitten
spot lets little cold air 10 the eggs,
and the embryo dies in consequence.
And when an egg gets rotten dts rot
tenness being due in nine eases out OF
ten to the death Of the chick from this
lack of heat), its contents begin to eN-
uda through the pores of the shell, and
the mites hasten to the feast. Seasons
in which eggs fail 10 hatch well lthe
poultry Journals inform us that there
are such) are probably seasons favor
able to the propagation OF the mite.
Now the larger and more complicated
the poultry house. the more cracks and
small hiding places for the mites to
breed in, and the more difficult to APP
ply any insecticide effectively. Such
houses require more attent on and work
than one man in a hundred will ever
devote 10 them, and more than the
pro.its from the poultry would pay for,
if il were done. 1t we wish TO raise
HEALTHY. quick-growing chicks, theg
should never be allowed TO approach
such a structure.
The liability of fowl or chick TO
take cold Is the other great drawback
in this business. Years ago it was
much more common 10 see fowls roost-
ing on trees in winter than it is now.
and. IL the evidence of old people is to
be taken. rpup and cholera were un.
known diseases. But 10 keep lot o!
fowls and allow them to roost in the
trees in winter. even admitting that by
SO doing they would never contract
roup and cholera. is too outrageous To
be tolerated Wild birds live out OF
doors all winter; we can't help it and
are no; responsible for 1t; but when We
come to the common fowl, we are deal.
ing with animals either educated o,
- H..
be deccntly educated. there will be nc
difficulty in inducing them to sleep in
doors. We should provide 4 roosting
house for them which which will retain
the healthy conditions of the tree, and
at the same time protect them from
winds and storms. A very large amount