South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-13

are overruu When such conditions
exist il IS exceedingly hard 20 over
come the trouble. The only effective
way 20 dght these pests is o. estab-
Iish "a rule 20 use preventive meas
ures at regular intervals.
Lice and mites in the majority OF
cases are more numerous on the gen
eral farm and backyard hock than
on large commercial poultry plants.
This may be because there are
greater numbers Of small fiOcks than
large ones. but IL is true that one
rnds few really modern commercial
poultry plants annoyed By vermin
The reason for this condition in
small focks IS usually due TO lack
OF sanitation or absolute Indifference
to methods Of prevention. IF = COM
mercial poultry farm treated the
vermiu question with equal indif-
ference the owner would soon face
failure
With modern methods Of Matching
and brooding artiicially the chicks
seldom come in contact with older
birds, consequently. there is little
excuse for either the birds or build
ings becoming seriously infested.
NevertheIess. preventive measures
must be practiced from the very
drst. Like weeds vermin seem 10
spring up from nowheres.
Neglect the Cause of Pests.
Lice and mites are the most COM
mon pests, and the ones that cause
the greatest trouble. Old hens show
sarrff II a.
measures are practiced. but this is
no reason for allowing vermin TO
overrun the quarters.
Young stock, artihcially raised in
clean surroundings should show no
signs Of lice until they are a year
old. Chicks infested with lice mean
neglect and nothing else.
Lice that attack poultry are of
TWO kinds, common chicken lice and
head lice. The common lice are
smaller and attack chickens of all
sizes. These pests live on q q secre-
tions OF the body. skin and feathers.
frequently they become SO thick as
10 cause death. especially In the case
of young chicks. and sitting hens
4 pair Of these pests under favorable
conditions will easily breed thou
sands i'm q few months. Female lice
las their eggs on the fowl, cement
ina. them TO the feather near the
skin In about 10 days these eggs
hatch and il is only "a short time till
the young mature and breed more.
busting the Hens.
The best way TO fight lice on the
fowl is with a busting powder, such
as can be made from equal parts Of
air-slaked lime. flowers of sulphur.
tobacco dust and road dust we'll
mixed Tn busting. the bird should
be held by the feet, head down, and
the powder applied with the hands,
drst 10 the legs, then the fluff.
breast and under the wings, turn
ing the bird over 20 do the back
and neck The powder should be
thoroughly rubbed I'm, particularly
about the fun and under the Wings
The work can be accomplished
much quicker if two persons work
together. one holding the bird while
the other does the busting. If the
person doing the busting will hold
the fowls head, keeping the hand
over the eyes. little trouble Will be
experienced 10y the bird fiuttering
during the operation. To be efec-
tive the busting should be repeated
in about three weeks 10 catch the
new brood of vermin. and i'm bad
cases "a third treatment is often
necessary.
I~migatiou and spraying viii de-
strsy an lice and mites about the
house. and IL reasonable cleanliness
ant disinfectlon are practiced, the
dus.ing OF the hens will rarely be
necessary.
Most dust boxes are not very ef-
rectisc. Left 20 select their own
bath. hens usually pick a slightly
moist dust instead of the dry stun
most dust baths afford. This slightly
moist Dust. If we may term IL dust,
has the effect Of cleaning ali scruf
and dirt from the base of the feath-
,rs. leaving the skin of the fowl as
Fl il were washed.
The larger louise. known as the
head louise, attack young chicks
bout the head. frequently causing
death. Hen Matched chicks are
usually the greatest sufferers. Greas-
ing ,he cop of each chicks head
with little lard mixed with few
drops OF creolin will Toe found ef-
rective The lard should Ice melted
and the creolin added while it ISL
liquid Then use when cold as q
grease.
Mites are smaller than lice. usual
~ red in color. though this color
comes chiefly from sucking the blood
~ the fowls Their habit is 20 live
I'm the creeks OF the house during
The day and attack The fock ON th
roost al night. They lay their eggs
FIN the cracks about the roosts and
nests Of the house and multiply
much faster than lice.
Effective Gas for FumigatiOn.
When the quarters are badly in
tested with lice or mites it b. best
20 clean ont ali litter and burn it.
All paper lining oould be torn of
and burned. and every corner clean
cd thoroughly After this the house
should be tightly closed and fumi
gated
For this purpose chloride ~ lime