Milford chronicle., 1915-03-05
BY ALL MEANS. ERADICATE
POULTRY LICE and MITES
By }. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights ReSS1Ven

The worst OF all external parasites with
which the poultryman has to contend is
lice and mites. There are many different
species Of lies which menace the fowl, and
il they are not checked, will prove disas-
trous. In almost nine cases out of ten,
mortality in young chicks can invariably
be traced to the presence OF lice, and large
numbers Of promising youngsters are kill
cd annually by this form Of parasite
Most poultTymen, however, or rather
those persone engaged in the raising of
chicks, only know of a few of these-they
are the most common, and incidently, the
most plentiful. The well-known varie-
ties are the head lice, the body lice and
the little red mites. The head lice are
perhaps responsible for the death of more
chicks than any of the other kinds.
They are the large, grey variety which
lurk in the region OF the head, and can
only be found by the parting of the down
which covers the head Of the chick.
They are quick as tightening, in fact
much quicker than is usually the attend.
ant, and many times one will pick up the
chicks, and upon examining the head of
each, set them down without finding
single louse. He at once forms the con-
clusiOn that bis chicks are not infested,
them.
The chicks soon begin to die off, and
he wonders what is the cause Be quick
when you examine their heads ana you
will see the grey louise as it darts to cover
Whether you succeed in finding them /
or not, 90 after them with vim. Better /
supply the dope that will kill them than /
go on the theory that none are there and I
have them kill the chick.
The best and quickest way to kill head
lice is to put two or three drops OF cam
phorated oil on the head of each chick
once a week, and rub it well into the I
down. 1t may discOlor the down on the ]
head, but it will surely kill old brier louise.
The body lice are not so quick as are h
those OF the grey variety, but remember
that they are not slow, and one must
also be quick to detect their presence on
the body. These will not kill 60 quickly I
as does the head louise, but slow death is
even worse than a rapid one, and they will !
surely accomplish this fact if left alone
Camphorated oil is equally as effective ,
on the body lice as it is on the head lice
and will chase them in q giffy Dip the
finger in the oil and rub into the down Of
the breast, under and around the vent, /
down the middle of the back and under
the rest throat ofthe youngsters, frequent q
ly, and you will thus succeed in holding !
them in check.
The form of parasite known as the red o
mite does not inhabit the body of the .
iewl, either large or small, but is never q
.heless a potent factor in the death of
many birds. They frequent the cracks
md crevices of poultry houses and lurk
lnder the roosts by day. With the shades
If darkness they form columns, as does
IN army when going to meet q foe, and
march toward the fowls while they are ~
costing ana resting. n
Swarming onto the bodies of the fowls =,
" the millions, they feed upon the body =
Turing the entire night, thus sapping its .,
cry life and blood out, many times caus- T.
ng death, but always causing the birds to -
ecome inactive and unhealthy, as inac =,
witty breeds disease. -
Every breeder should give the subject -
lice his undivided attention in an effort y, ~
} keep both the fowls and the coops COM -
aratively free from this form of deadly s;i
arasite The liberal use of lice powders, 81
ce killers and disinfectants in the hen so Se
ouse and on the fowls, coupled with a oa ea
BOD dust bath, will aid materially in o1
the desired results and thus ~
crease the efficiency OF your fowls. 'l n1
Treat the birds and houses regularly ot
r the determination of the lice, and after a. ~,
lch treatment make a thorough exami a.,
alton to see if any more can be seen. - u.'
! this way a person is able to keep both q 81
them reasonably free from this parasite w ~
I'd almost half of his poultry trouble is 10
an end. Can you sleep in a chinch- to,
tested bed? should think not Then t;e
lagine what it means to a fowl, perched AZ AZ
a roost trying to rest and sleep for its ~ ot
duous labors of the following day, with u =,
illions of red mites crawling over its PC
dY and sucking its life and blood away. -,
: any and all means, exterminate the p oo
q and mites. o9 oe