The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-07-13
LOWLY HEN IS
MONEY MAKER
Marion County Farm Agent
Tells How To Raise
Fowls.

For the benefit Of the boys and girls
That are interested in the raising OF
chicks, and also for the experienced
farmer, County Agricultural Agent H.
i. smith has issued a short report on
the best way to care for chickens dur
4ur4he hot summer months. He men
tIons chiefly that to rid the foul OF
iice il Of paramount importance. more
important than the wedding OF gar
dens. He also states that the red
mite an insect that is more harmful
than any kind Of lice, is easy to BE-
gotten rid Of and explains how II can
De done.
rs article in detail follows: !,
arirgt. I win mention lice and red
uites. You will need to be constant
" on guard all summer against 1nese
and other pests. 1t will be more alnl-
cnlt 70 keep your chicks free from
Lies and mites than 1t is to keep the
weeds out Of the garden. In fact they
ara much worse than weeds.
aTo give biddy thorough 1oo OF
dusting for lice, take her by the legs
or shanks in one hand, letting her
head hang down. Then dust the pow
der thoroughly into the feathers. we
! can these soft feathers the fun. See
that the powder is worked wei INTO
the feathers on her sides and PACK;
You viii need to keep her well busted
at frequent periods all summer. ms
ourht to be sufficient busting FOR the
little chicks also, for they VIII get
themselves dusty when they crawl IN
der the mothers wing. But that you
NAV be sure that the little chicks are
free from lice, always look IN three
places-on the top OF the head IN the
soft fuff behind, and under the throat.
You may ind some big gray fellows
with their heads right down into the
skin on top Of the chicks heads. IhoSe
behind are much more lively and WIZ
be seen running about. II you ind
any lice, take little olive or sweet
OH as much as will stick to the end
Of YOUR forehnger. and rub on these
places and you will see both MI. and
MrE Louise die right then and there.
5'tNow we are going to tell you
abont another pest which is worse
than lice. We mean the red mites.
These are called mites because tney
are very small and they are calied req
because their color is red when tney
have their stomachs full OF blood
which they have sucked from the ut
tie chicks or the mother hen. Lice
eat the skin and feathers. Mites suck
the blood. For this reason both are
called parasites.
"Sow these mites lie hidden away
ali day long in cracks or creyices about
the coop, and they come out at night
on their blood-thirsty raids wnen you
and the little chicks are asleep They
like. best of all, dirty or tilthy places
n which to live. They have no fear Of
our powder, SO we must get after them
With ammunition. Cleanliness is the
best preventive or remedy, so We shall
tell you how to clean house.
aFirst of all, since the floor Is the
dirtest part Of house. just knock
the bottom part out OF the coop, and
then there Is no floor to furnish filth
and a place where these ROBBERS can
hide during the day. Then move the
cooo 10 q new spot frequently, and
your coop, as far as the floor is con-
cened, is easily and quickly cleaned.
Next take the kerosene can and pour
oil into all the cracks about the coop.
Boiling water will do as well. Repeat
the operation every ten days or two
weeks and 1t is goodbye to Mr.. Mite.
slnasmuch as we have said so much
about coops. we hope you will not
think that you are to keep biddy and
her chicks in all the time. Remember
that boys and girls like to have free.
DOM too, these fine days. so you must
let biddy take her chicks out every
morning to go wherever she wishes.
only TO return to the coop at night to
be shut in safe from rats. skunks and
other enimies. She will find much food
for them that is better than that which
you can give and you will be surprised
20 Gee how the little CHICKS will grow"
lslit