The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-05-06
LICE and Mites.

lhese are the most troublesome
things that the poultryman has to deal
with. We are bothered more with them
when fowls are confined than when
loose on range. These little pests are
to be found almost the entire year
round, but are more plentiful during
the summer months. Therefore the
chickens need more attention at this
time. and sorry to say it is the time
when they get the least. That is the
reason so many chickens die during the
summer and is attributed to limberneck
or cholera, when often the fact is that
they have been bothered to death by
these pests. Man. people if you ask
them will tell you that their fowls
haven't any lice on them when really
they haven't examined them and if they
should, would find out that they have,
for there is hardly grown fowl living
that does not bear the guilt if close
enough inspection is made to see.
Do not let them get the start of you.
hut begin to fight them early in the
spring and keep the fight up until late
that fall. There are two good ways in
which they can be fought, one is by
using liquid louise killer and the other
is a powder.
There are several varieties of lice
and mites, but the one we have to con-
tend with the most, is the common
long-bodied, six-legged mite. These
vsrmin live on the body and among the
feathers of the fowl. They are found
mostly about the vent, and under the
wings. They live off of particles gath
cred from the feathers and out of the
skin.
The condition of lousy fowl is as
follows; They begin to fall off in flesh
and especially in egg yield. damaged
droopy piumsge is another sign, laying
of infertile eggs another. lousy fowl
loses vigor and droops about as though
sick, 1t takes all their energy to fight
the lice and as thev fight them they
gradually grow weaker and weaker UNI
til the chance for disease is much bet
ter, then in this weakened condition
they take some disease and die; or else
die from the gradual eating away OF
the lice.
Little chicks are also infected with
lice but the most harmful TO them i.
the brown head louise, which fairly sap.
the vigor out of them and if effected
when very Young they will soon die.
The lice live deep down at the has,
of the feathers and on the skin. so II
we are to reach them with louise pow.
der We must get it well in. Take the
fowl by the legs hold up so that the
head is down, tlen let someone separate
the feathers and dust the powder wei
down to the skin. Then make a mix.
ture of three parts kerosine to one OF
crude-carbolic acid and paint all roosts,
dropping boards, setting boxes.
brood coops, and put in all cracks
and crevices about the hen house.
Another destroyer lice is dust,
provide for the fowls plenty of good
fresh dust TO exercise in. You can
dust some louise powder in with the
dust bath and 1t will do no harm. These
vermin lay their eggs in clusters on the
birds body and about the hen house and
they are said to be Matching every hour
so you see it is very important to re-
peat this treatment every few days.
The best way have found to kill the
head louise in young chickens is to
grease the head slightly with common
meat grease. rubbing it in well and by
looking closely you can see them die AS
il touches them.
White-wash helps to keep the lice
down and use plenty of the above
mentioned liquid paint. Watch closely
and fight them just as long as there is
one to be found.