Semi-weekly herald., 1913-06-02

tifnes rev days OIL neglect Will over
whelm the whole flock. This is es-
pecially true of the little red mite.
During chilly or real cold weather
they neither breed nor feed, but WOE
unto poor hens at the first approach
of warm weather. These pests ap-
proach the fowl only at their feeding
time, suck what blood they need and
return to their hiding places, which
are always beneath the perches and in
the nest-boxes. If not checked they
will spread to every crack and crevice
in the house. Prevention is therefore
most important. First, all roost-
rooms should be smooth, making as
few hiding places for the mites az
possible, Second, perches and nest
boxes should never be nailed as per-
manent fixtures in the house. They
should always be removable. Third,
the greatest degree of cleanliness
should be observed, especially during
very warm weather when the mites
are most active.
When these pests have once obtain
ed foothold in your poultry houses
they must be exterminated. and for
this purpose nothing Is better or
cheaper than kerosene. It is one of
our household necessities, and ia al
ways ready and handy Besides, it
is far more penetrating than anything
| huua triad trta
crack and crevice in the house. The
morning is the best time to do this
in order to allow the air to become
purified before roosting time at night.
The perches and nest-boxes should
also receive treatment. Some like
whitewash better. 1t is all right, pro-
viding it is done thoroughly. For
whtewashing the best method is to
fill a fifty-galion cask pretty full OF
good, fresh, hot whitewash and dip
the nests and perches in it, Use
brush for parts that cannot be i'm
merscd in the whitewash. White
washing the house all over gives it
very neat appearance and at the same
time kills the vermin. This is best ap-
piled with a good sprayer.
Body-lice, which are most destruc-
tive to the health of the young stock,
are the primary cause of many chicks
becoming stunted. Furthermore,
flock of fowls infested with body-lice
require at least twice as much food,
and general weakness sis bound to
come over flock, which makes them
easy victims to disease.
Body-lice are on the body only.
Their breeding place is below the vent
of the fowl, and their eggs are at
tached to the use Of the feathers,
as that is the warmest spart of the
feet. In looking for these you must
be quick, as they escape az soon as
you open the feathers. They are not
blood-suckers, like the red mite, but
live mostly on the scales of the fowls
body. These scales are necessary to
the fowls health. A dust bath aids
in keeping body-lice in check and is
the natural method of protection, but
can never be depended upon as cure.
To exterminate body-lice use good
insect-powder. Take the fowl by the
feet, thrust her head into galvanized
iron half-bushel or similar receptacle,
so that all powder that does not go
into the feathers can be saved for
future use. Dust her feathers full.
II the powder is good and the work
thoroughly done, there will be no live
lice ten minutes after the operation.
Do not stop with single treatment,
for there is another crop that will
hatch from the nits. To make clean
sweep second treatment must be
given after week or ten days, and
you will have no more body-lice.
The head-lice are entirely different
from the other kinds Of lice, and are
true to their name, as they are never
found anywhere but on the head and
neck. At molting-time as many as
half dozen may be found on
single quill. They are also very COM
mon and destructive among young
| chicks. To get rid Of head-lice apply
equal parts of sweet oil and kerosene
| to the deathers Of the head and neck.
A few drops will do the work. One
treatment is hardly sufficient in most
cases, so ! would advise second ap-
| plication few days later.
Some ask me why either treatment
will not kill both kinds of lice. 1t
will do no harm to apply the powder
to kill the head-lice, but it is impos-
sible to get the powder at the base Of
the quilts of the neck to catch all,
hence penetrating oil must be used.
Then if you use the oil treatment for
the body-louse, applying 1t to ali parts
of the fowls body, it would result in
the death Of the fowl, because all the
pores of the body must not be closed
at once.
THE PUEBLO RAILROAD SUIT