Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-06-27
LICE AND MITES.
BY Professor o. w. DYNES,
Poultryman, North Dakota
Agricultural College.
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The two most common parasites of
fowls are the common hen louise and
the red mite. These pests appear to
be as universal in their distribution as
he domestic fowl itself, and cause I'M
told damage, yearly, to the poultry
industry. Lice feed on the feathers
and possibly on the dead cuticle of
the birds, while the mites gnaw the
flesh and suck the blood. If lice are
present in much numbers on fowls,
they will readily be seen in the feath-
ers under the wings, or about the vent.
Mites do not ordinarily remain on the
fowls during the day but ~secrete them
selves about the roosts and in the
%crevices of the pen or house. At night
they come forth from their hiding
places and attack the birds. The lice
vary greatly in size, ranging according
to DR.. Salmon, from one-thirtieth to
one-sixth OF an inch in length. Mites
are much smaller and appear as mi
mute bodies about one-fortieth of an
inch in length. If present in large
numbers they congregate in clusters
under and at the ends Of the roosts.
When mites are filed with blood they
are easily recognized by their dark
red color; otherwise they may appear
white or Of a yellowish cast. A good
indication of the presence of mites
in the poultryhouse is their increment,
small grayish patches, like fly specks,
appearing on the roosts.
Methods of Destruction.
Under ordinary circumstances no
special measure need be taken for ex-
terminating hen lice. If lice are
abundant in a flock of poultry either
one or perhaps all of three conditions
are present: The stock is lacking in
health and vigor and will be more or
less debilitated; the house is i'll VEN
tilated, poorly lighted and unsanitary;
and the fowls do not have access to
good dust baths. A healthy hen if
given a fair chance will keep free
from lice. In well ordered focks,
however, an occasional fowl is found
which appears sickly and out of condi-
ton. Such fowls readily become the
prey Of lice and should receive as.
sistance in getting rid of the parasites.
Some good insect powder, we'll busted
into the feathers, will prove a very
efficient remedy. Setting hens and
hens with their broods should also re-
ceive like treatment. Head lice on
chicks may be killed by single ap-
plication of pure lard or butter. Some
poultry keepers make a practice of
immersing their fowls bodily in a one
per cent solution of carbolic acid.
Such treatment although effective is
too laborious and is "necessa I'M
less an extreme case must be dealt
with.
Mites are very difficult to extermi-
nate and their treatment must be of
a rigorous nature. When the house is
badly infected, all fixtures in the pens,
such as roosts, dropping boards, nests,
etc., should be removed. and the in
side walls, floor, ceiling, and also the
fixtures themselves, thoroughly wetted
by spraying On a solution made by
d%issolving six ounces of crude carbolic
acid to each gallon of hot water. If a
spray pump cannot be procured the
solution may be applied with a house
broom. This treatment can be fol-
lowed up a few days later by the appl1-
cation of a good coat of w~hitewash.
Any mites that have escaped the first
treatment should be effectually killed
by the whitewash.
Preventive Measures.
The best preventives for lice and
mites are cleanliness, we'll lighted
pens, and efficient dust baths. To Sc
cure a fair degree of cleanliness the
droppings should not be allowed to
remain in the pens beyond a reason
able length of time. If dropping
boards are used a daily removal is
preferable. The scratching litter
should be renewed when it shows indi-
cations Of becoming foul. Plenty of
sunlight is essential to good SANTA
ton, and in constructing the poultry
house this should be taken into con-
sideration. The establishment of the
conditions just mentioned, however,
Is not sufficient to ward off vermin
unless some e are adopted for
furnishing the fowls dust baths. Com
mon road dust with ashes, is all that
is necessary to supply the hens with
YOQd duSting material During the