Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-19
|POULTRY MUST Be kept
| FREE OF LICE AND MITES
In Order to Succeed In Chicken
Raising Fowl Must Not Suf-
fer From Ncrmin.
RESPONSIBLE FOR DISEASE
Valuable Suggestion by Expert rs to
busting Powders and Formulas for
Spraying Solutions-How 10 Fu-
migate With Sulphur.
ny II. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS.

important CONSIDERATIONS III lHe poui-
stry yard. They are the strongest bull
swarks against disease; they give COM
sfort TO the owls. and in doing they
Ensure productiveness, profitable re-
sturns.
Nothing is more destructive to sue
icess with hens than filth and vermin,
yet Il is surprising how many poultry
Skecpers fail 10 appreciate these funda-
.mentals, especially among the farm
.nocks and the backyard enterprises.
.Nermin is responsible for a greater
death rate and more losses than one
would imagine. Its devastation. though
iless tangible than disease. is more
widespread. Its legicns wage their
warfare from under cover: they Turk
Sin the obscure, dark places by day and
make their most aggressive assaults
by night. when the constitutional viSor
!of the flock is the most vulnerable.
Z We all know how painful and an
noying il is to be bitten by mosquito
-or other insect. Imagine what torture
lit must be to be assailed by thousands
tof mosquitoes, and to be helpless to
ward them off or get away from them.
sln a very short time they would drive
one frantic; even death might follow.
Such is tho position of the flock of
schicRens made TO live in quarters in
tested with lice and mites.
fore almost Insignificant individually,
by reason OF their vast numbers, col
lectively lice and mites represent an
enemy with the viciousness and poten-
tiality OF a fair-sized animal. An as
F,>nblaGe OF .oodsuckinE mites is
capable OF absorbing more blood. more
vitality overnight than the fowl can
replace by the assimilation of large
quantities of food in n day. In addi-
tion to this actual loss OF strength, the
fowl must endure the physical dis
comfort OF being constantly pierced
and chewed by these pests, which is a
terrific drain on the nerve power.
ZINE VARIETIES OF LICE
WHICH PREY ON FOWLS
There Is said 90 be nine varieties o.
lice affecting poultry, but so far as
We are Concerned. We can consider them
as class. Lice breed on mature poul-
try throughout the year, multiplying
most rapidly In warm weather hence
this is the season when greater care
should be taken 10 eStermnate them.
Unlike mites, lice remain on the fowls
both day and night. The most common
kind is gray in color: they have long
bodies and are quick OF movement
Their eggs or ''nits" are attached TO
the feathers o, the fowls, and hatch
n about week.
The mouth Of the louise is formed for
have tondness for moisture they can
be poisoned by spreading a mercurial
ie!usl ointment on the flesh OF the
fowl where the lice are seen TO con-
greeate. This treatment should be
limited 70 mature birds only, as the
mercury is likely to prove dangerous
TO chicks Use = small quantity, about
the size Of grain Of wheat. and spread
It on the fowls skin, preferably near
the vent or under the wings. Ointment
OF SO r"r cent strength is correct,
no stronger
Lice breathe through spiracles or
pores in their sides. hence another
method Of attack is to suffoca,e them
by stuf'ing up these breathing tubes
with fine powder. The instinct for
hen to take dust bath is natures
way 10 Kill these pests. therefore, nc
poultry house is complete without some
provision for dust bath. If the house
mas art moor no special provision
is necessary; but if the floor is OF
wood or cement, compartment should
be installed that is filed With dry soil
road dust is excellent.
BUSTING POWDERS SHOULD
DE USED LIBERALLl
When fowls are badly infested viii
lice they tn6uld hot be lef, TO theII
own effd+ts'"t6 combat them The,
should tie taken in hand by the atten
a treatment n
busting. with relia BILE inscct-destroy
Ing powder. OF which there are man,
on the market The most effectiy,
powder IS that which contains a dry
Ing and burning ingredient, or on,
giving of fumes.
FOLLOWING is a formula for a simple
homemade powder which has give,
satisfactory results: Add an ,unce n
80 per cent carbolic acid to a neck o
siifted coal ashes. mix thoroughly an,
theh aad an equal quantity OF tobacco
stem dust. The nowder should n
worked Into the plumage OF the fowl
= the greater part OF the application be
ing in the huff feathers near the ven
and under the wings. It's effec, IL al
most Immediately noticeable; il IN
piufaage Is shaken over II piece o
paper the bodies OF the lice will fal
OH IN large numbers, suffocated
Inc Following formula has been use
az the Maine and Cornell experimcn
stations FOR number of years: Ad
one part crude carbolic acid to ,hre
parts gasoline. mix these together care
fully. and while stirring add ennuc
p!aAter or Paris to take up the mojs
'ufe. when enough plaster has bee
euutu Ihe resulting mixture should l.
uFF' pinkish-brcwn powder, havin
iairiy strong door OF Carbolic aci,
perforated can. similar 10 nou
powder. Use IL literally, as no barr
can result, unless The fowl IL abnr
TO bring off brood Of chicks. in who
event the powder should be annie
rather spsringiy on account OF n
chicks eyes. :"
HABITS OF MITES MUCH
DIFFERENT FROM Lie
Mites must be treated dinercn,
from lice. inastnuch as their habi,s -,
dlHereni. Mites live IN the crnyices
boards, roosts, dropping boards. noe
and other places, whence they eu.s-
by thousands, and seldom go ON -
fowls unit! nightfall. 1t is only who
mites are unable to obtain enomc
blood at night that they remain ON -
FOWL during the day. Before fr4d,,
they are pale yellow color vi,
changes 10 dark red after feedin
due to the blood which they have al
sorbed. g
Unlike lice. the young OF mI,.s :.
not Matched on the .owls. but in !,
hiding places Of the parent ,nitt
consequently TO destroy these pes
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