The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-15
VERMIN CONSUME
Much GOOD FOOD
Comparatively Simple Measures
Will Keep Flock Free From
Lice and Mites.
DUST BATH OF IMPORTANCE
Fresh Air, Sunlight and Frequent
Cleaning Will Assist Materially
In Keeping Parasites Away
Treat Hens Individually.

The backyard poultry keeper in
common with others must bear in mind
the fact that chickens will not give
adequate returns in eggs or growth If
they are permitted to be infested with
lice and mites. Probability of such in
Hesitation is largely eliminated by pro-
viding in the poultry house adequate
air space, lighting, ventilation, and
frequent cleaning These things, how
ever, cannot be wholly relied upon to
prevent either lice or mites.
A readily available dust bath, more
than any other single thing, perhaps.
enables the chickens themselves to get
rid of lice and mites. If such place
is not available in the yard, box large
enough for hens to get into should
be provided in the house and a guam
tity of dust, such as ordinary road
dust or fine dirt, placed in 1t to
allow the mems place to dust them
selves.
Use Sodium Fiuorid.
To rid the hens of lice, each one
can be treated by placing small pinches
Of sodium fiuorid, material which
can be obtained at most large drug
stores, among the feathers next to the
skin-one pinch on the head, one on
the neck, two on the back, one on the
breast, one below the vent, one at
the base of the tail, one at either thigh,
and one scattered on the underside of
each wing when spread. Another
method is to use a small quantity of
blue ointment, piece about as large
as q pea on the skin one inch below
the vent. If mercurial ointment Is
used instead of blue ointment, 1t
should be diluted with an equal guam
fity Of vaseline. Any Of these meth
DDS will be found very effective in
Kidding the hens Of lice and sl:ould be
employed whenever the lice become
troublesome. Two or three applica-
lions q year usually prove sufficient.
Mites Most Harmful.
Mites are more troublesome and
more harmful than lice. They do not
live upon the birds like the lice, but
during the day hide in the cracks ana
creyices of the roosts and walls OF
the house, and at night they come out
and get upon the fowls. They suck the
hens blood, end If allowed TO become
Dlentiful-as they certainly WIZ II not
destroyed-will seriously affect her
health and consequently her ability
to Law eggs. They may be eradicated
nv a few thorough applications of kero'
some or some Of the coal-tar products
which are sold for this purpose, OF
crude petroleum, to the interior OF inc
poultry house. The commercial coai
FAR products are more expensive, Du'
retain their killing power longer, ane
they may be cheapened by reducins
with an equal part of kerosene. Cruu'
petroleum will spray better II thinnee
with one part Of kerosene to lou'
-,rts Of the crude oil. Both the crud'
netroleum and the coal-tar product'
often contain foreign particles s.
should he strained before attempting
IN snray. One must be sure that TIT
snroy reaches all Of the cracks ant
creyices, giving especial attention u
the roosts, dropping-boards, and nests
and the treatment should be repeate'
two or three times at intervals OF
week or ten days.