Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-08-19
The Chicken Mite.
BY John j. Repp.

The Chicken Mite.
By John j. Repp.
According to the twelfth census
Iowa led the States of the union III
in the numberof chickens three
months old and over, having June
], 1900, ,907,673. The value of
Poultry raised in 1899 was $9, 9,4g1-
$500 and the value Of eggs pro-
duced during that time Sl0,016-
707. 90. Allowing for the necessary
incorrectness Of such statistics it is
still certain that we have in this
state vest poultry industry whose
intereste are deserving of our
closest attention.
The mite attacks other species OF
domestic fowls besides the chicken,
also at times becomes serious pest
to horses stabbed with fowls or nea i
them and even becomes parasitic
upon man. This bulletin deals only
with the mite as it affects chickens;
but the principles which it sets forth
can be applied equally well iu all
conditions unber which the mite ex-
lists.
One of the most fornid-
able enemies of chickens in Iowa
is unquestionably the chicken mite,
scientifically called Der1nanyssue
gallinae Redi. My observations have
demonstrated that chickens infested
with mites are exceedingly unpro-
ftable The cost Of keeping them is
increased and the income from them
is very much reduced. Indeed, when
very badly infested thay are totally
incapacitated for performing work.
The hens will cease laying. The
ovaries undergo atrophy and on
autopsy will be found shrunken and
| in condition unsuitable for work
l|sIn several. aoeks, an (which Z NAL
observation / found that egg pro
lduction was greatly reduced or alto
gether prevented during the spring
and summer when, under normal
conditions it would have been at is
height.
Hatching hens will often either
Idle on the nest as aresult of the
mite infestation or will leave their
eggs, literally driven away by the
vast hordes Of mites which accumu-
late upon them. y
In one case I was able to deter
lmine with certainty that the mites
were introduced into flock by a
rooster that had been bought in a
neighboring flock which proved on
examination to be badly infected
with mites. There is no doubt that
mites may be carried from one prem.
ises to another upon all sorts Of in
termediate bearers.
To provide against infection of {
flock in this manner any new fowl
which are brought in from infected
premises should be quarantined ant
treated by dusting with pyrethrun
4 powder until all the mites have beel
destroyed.
In one case tried to exterminat
| the mites in a henhouse by means 0
| fire applied with torch, but tn
4 attempt was unsuccessful. . :,
i I next resorted to the use Of ker
osene emulsion and found it YER
effective. The emulsion is made a
follows:
Take one-half pound Of hard soa]
and shave it into a gallon of sol
water and put it on the fire an
bring it to boil. By this time tn
soap will have dissolved. Then re
} move the soap solution from the fir
!! and stir into it at once, while no
! two gallons Of kerosene. This make
; a thick creamy emulsion which
made ready for use by diluting wit
ten volumes Of soft water and sti,
ring well. 1t can be utilized as
! spray, dip or wash.
1t is necessary to use soft waite
for hard water decomposes the soa
and destroys its emulsifying powe
! In my experiments | used viii
laundry soap, but any good hal
soap will do.
\ For the sake Of brevity I refrai
: from recounting my various expel
Z ments, but will detail in gener
8 way a method Of applying the emu
sion based upon my experiment
ton which will be found effective
k those who will thoroughly try it.
J, Make up as much of the sto,
I emulsion as it is thought will /
s needed. This can be kept in
9 suitable vessel and a portion taxi
d out and diluted as needed. liz Il
II bucket or holder attached to t
n spray pump holds five gallons, or
e half gallon Of the stock emulsi,
}. should be taken and put into t
J, bucket or holder and four and OF
y half gallons of soft water added al
i. the whole we'll stirred. 1t is tn
r ready to be sprayed on the plae
IS occupied by the mites. A begi
l. ming should be made at a particul
to place and the whole habitation
% mites sprayed in a regular order
which account should be taken
fe that the game order may be follow
le in subsequent sprayings. I
It, spray should be directed with sp
b. ial care into all crevices, holes, joil
ID or other hiding or breeding-pla'
Of the mites. The first spray