Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-01-02
Concerning Poultry vermln.

We now come to the lice that live on
the roosts or any convenient place
where they may find lodgment and
prey upon their victims during the
night and some kinds even in the day
time. but do not, like those already
mentioned, live exclusively on the fowl.
Prominent among these is the "red
mites" the flea and the bed-bugs.
The first is perhaps the most trouble
some Of all the lice which the poultry
man has to contend with and certainly
the most numerous. 1t Is to be re-
GREETED that we have no description
which corresponds In every particular
to this little friend Of ours. He Is un-
doubtedly menapon. but the species
which is SO common in this part OF the
state is not given in any work which
have been able to reach.
l have corresponded with professors
Of entomology at the state universlty
and also of the Stanford. but find moth
ing definite on the subject. have
also submitted specimens for examina-
tions to the department at Washing
ton from which have not full returns.
But what's in name" 1t is sufii-
cient for our present purpose to know
that 1t Is a small spider-like parasite,
red In color only when filled with blood
and white or rather transparent when
1t is not.
There are several species infesting
canaries and wild birds. but the one
which makes itself SO useful about our
hen roosts shall claim our attention
for the present. They deposit their
eggs in and about the roosts and crew.
ces. in the walls near by or In the
nests Of sitting hens. where they Will
hatch by the thousands in very short
time. The most common means USED
for their determination Is white-wash'
to which may be added carbolic acid or
coal oil with good results. A spray
pump will drive 1t into corners ana
crevices better than brush. Fumiga-
ton. perhaps. Is good in tight house,
but California houses are seldom ugnt
and 1t is therefore useless.
All the means used, aiming to XIII
the insect and go no farther, fail In
great measure to reach the desired end.
Such remedies will keep them In check,
but will not extermInate. 1t is next to
impossible to kill and destroy the nests
Of all ON the premises. and therefore 1t
Ia q fight that never ends In complete
victory.
There Is 4 remedy which will do this.
but why 1t is that poultrymen will not
adopt 1t when they must admit that, !
am utterly unable to solve. nrst
learned 1t from q friend In Fruitvale,
Alameda county. some years ago ana
was not slow to put 1t In use. since
which time I have not been troubled
with the menapon. The plan is simply
to starve them to death by suspending
the roosts with wire. The lice will not
travel over the wires. nor will they get
on the hens in the day time. l have NO
recollection Of seeing this plan men
toned in any poultry paper except
one. have often tried to induce
others to try 1t, but they generally have
q better plan, or the hens roost In trees
where lice never find them. never real
izing that every scale Of bark on the
tree is alive with lice.
have never known Of anyone VINO
depended upon any other method but
what keeps enough about to start new
colony whenever they cease using their
infallible remedies.
A very good way Is to suspend
piece across each end Of the roosting
room from the roof with common bal
ing wire about foot from the walls
all around, then lay roost poles on them
about IS inches apart, SO as to give the
hens ample room, notch the ends OF
the outside ones over the ends OF the
suspended pieces. having them all rest
smooth, and brace the whole with wire
from the sides Of the house to prevent
swinging. Do not have them higher
than table, and for Asiatic breeds,
wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks. 6
inches lower. Compel every fowl to
roost there and you will have no use
for any other remedy for roost lice.
II you think the smell Of sulphur or
carbolic acid is healthy put little on
your handkerchief. but don't annoy
your fowls with It. Have a smooth
door and keep It clean: then you can
invite your friend in to see your rows
Of glossy pets after they have retired
for the night with no danger OF soilinG
his "store-clothes" with whitc-wash.
creosozone or coal-tar, while the aroma
of the omnipresent carbolic acid Is con-
spicuous by its absence.-w. s. Houten.
in Fanciers' Monthly.
Wheat Chaff on Poultry Floors
One of the best uses for wheat chan Is
to use 1t on the floor of the poultry
house. 1t may be three or four inches
thick, and serves several purposes. the
first being to keep the floor always dry
and clean. and the next is that II n few
miIlet seeds be scattered in the chan
the hens will work and search indus
triously for the seeds. 1t is always
fine, and is excellent for the manure
heap when the floor is cleaned. Where
wheat is grown, the chan is the cheap
est substance that can be used. and in
the winter it will serve to keep the
fowls warm by shutting of drafts of
cold air along the fioor.-Farm and
Fireside.
Trade in Horse Meat-The worst
feature of the meat trade Is the fact
that horse flesh is sold fraudulently as
a substitute for beef. 1t is on much the
same plane as the trade in "oleo" and
other butter substitutes. We have no