The Red Cloud chief., 1904-05-06
POULTRY
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Lice and Mites,

Some years ago the Farmers Re.
view sent out an inquiry to its poul-
try readers asking what were the
leading causes of losses among the
early broods of chickens. II was no
surprise to the editor when the reply
came back that the greatest cause of
loss to chicks was lice an mites.
Some of the poultry raisers estimated
that no less than 80 per cent Of all
the chicks hatched were annually
killed off by these two pests, of which
the mites were the worst. 1t is safe
to say that If any farmer can manage
to exterminte these insects and keep
them out of his flock he will increase
the profits from his poultry at least
so per cent, without anything else be.
ing done
The body lice OF fowls are quite
easily kept off by the use OF a dust
bath and by the use of grease on the
heads, around the tail feathers and
under the wings. Perhaps some
should be put at the base of the wing
feathers. These body lice become
smeared with the grease, their pores
become filled and death quickly fol
lows. Not SO easily handled are the
mites. One would have to keep the
birds covered with grease all the time
and all over to protect them from the
ravages Of these little pirates. The
mites do not stay on the bodies OF the
birds in the daytime, but 60 onto the
birds at night, fill themselves with
blood and scurry back to their hiding
places under the roosts between the
cracks OF the boards, and under any
object that gives them a hiding place.
To grease the birds every day would
Kill the birds themselves in time and
would be task not to be thought OF.
The insects must then be fought on
the roosts and In their hiding places.
Once they have become established
the task of getting rid of them Is a
colossal one, as many OF our readers
have discovered. We have seen poul-
try houses in which we believed this
could not be done on account of the
irregularity of construction. When
houses are loosely thrown together
there are so many seams and cracks,
so many apertures behind slivers, so
many rotten holes in posts. to say
nothing of nail holes and knot holes,
that pest Of this kind can become
thoroughly intrenched. Fire and ker-
osene and paint are the three chief
weapons for carrying on the fight. A
well.buit poultry house permits OF
the use of paint for closing the cracks
and for the use of fire in cleansing
the roosts, provided the roosts are
movable and can be taken out OF
doors. Where the poultry house is OF
cruder construction thick whitewash
should be used literally till the fresh
ly slaked lime has filed every Granny.
Fortunately lime is cheap and can
be used ad libitum.
Young chickens should not be al
lowed to sleep in poultry house
where 1t is known that mites exist,
as the parasites are almost certain to
find them and sap their vitality with.
out the owner ever suspecting 1t. II
the chicks are put in place by them.
selves, OF course In the care of the
old hen, they will be out of the reach
of the mites. The only parasites to
be guarded against then will be the
body lice. Use only lard for this and
do not overdo 1t, putting on the lard
as we have indicated for the old hens.
Kerosene Is not necessary, and 1t is
too harsh to apply to the very tender
skins of the chicks.-Farmers' Re
view