Vernon Parish Democrat., 1919-11-08

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
When foreign live stock is imported
into the United States the animals
irrespective Of variety, worth, or health
uaranty-invariably are held in quar-
antine at the port of debarkatiOn until
the government authorities are con-
vinced that these animals are free
from disease. What applies to the en-
try Of foreign live stock is also appi-
cable to the movement of the farm
fowl from the range to winter quar-
ters. At this time it is essential to
assure the health Of the hens during
the winter, as only robust and vigor-
GUS fowl will produce profitable and
continuous flow of eggs. No matter
how well bird is bred or how excel
lently she is fed, she cannot help but
decline in egg production If she is
continually annoyed bp pestiferous lice
and mites or is debilitated by disease.
More than 40 distinct species Of lice
infest domestic poultry, of which seven
species have selected the hen as an
ideal host on which to prey. Body lice,
head lice, and feather lice, which inter-
mingle to a great extent and which
have common habits, are the most de-
structive to hen happiness. These spe-
cies never leave the bodies or feathers
Of the fowl. Although differing some
what In size and appearance, they all
are equipped with peculiarly arranged
legs, which facilitate rapid movement
through the feathers. They are armed
with sharp, strong biting mouths, but,
unlike the red and gray mites, are not
equipped for sucking blood !; instead,
they feed on portions Of the feathers,
and on scales from the skin.
Effleaelous Treatment
Inasmuch as poultry lice remain on
the fowls nearly all the time, the most
eficacious treatments are those which
are applied directly to the birds. So
dium fuOride, powder which can be
purchased at most drug stores, is an
effective remedy, being exceedingly
poisonous to all kinds Of poultry lice
It should be applied by placing a small
amount Of pOwder-as much as can be
held between the thumb and finger
among the feathers next to the skin,
on the head, neck, back, under the
wings, on the breast, below the vent,
and at the base Of the tail. The opera
tor should exercise care not to inhale
any of the powder, as 1t irritates the
nose and throat.
Blue ointment Is another effective
remedy. In using it apply small por-
tion-a piece about the size Of a pea
with the fingers around only the vent
of the fowl, and not on the body or
under the wings. Special care should
be exercised in handling this ointment
as it is extremely poisonous.
IF mercurial ointment, a similar
preparation, is used, it should be di-
luted with one-half the quantity of
vaseline or lard. Lice powders of va
rious sorts are also on the market
and may oftentimes be used with good
results. They should be well busted
into the feathers, working the ma
terial in with the fingers, especially
under the wings and around the vent,
to make sure 1t reaches the skin. If
all the lice are not killed by the first
treatment the fowl should be busted
again in a week or ten. days and as
often afterward as necessary.
Extremely Troublesome.
Poultry mites are also extremely
troublesome and destructive in the
henhouse. They are blood-sucking
parasites which exist entirely on the
blood Of the fowls. Naturally small
and gray in color, these parasites at
tain considerable size and become red
when they are gorged with blood. Dur
ing the day they hide in cracks and
creviees, behind boards that are near
rOosts, and in other retreats, while at
night, when the hens go to roost, the
mites leave their hiding places and
feast on the blood of the fowls. The
irritation and loss OF blood causes ma
ture fowls to become pale in comb and
poor in flesh; sitting hens win desert
their nests and spoil their eggs, If
they do not die on the nests. and chick
ems will become weak and droopy, and
in many instances die from the attack.
In controlling mites the primary essen
tial is to subject each house, roost and
nest to a thorough cleaning, followed
by an efficient spraying with kerosene.
crude oil, or some heavy coal-tar prepa-
ration, making sure that the spray PEN
trates all cracks and crevices where
the mites may be hiding. The heavy
coal-tar preparations are most effective
and last the longest. They can be
purchased at most drug stores with
fall directions for mixing and using
Control by Complete Cleanup.
Whitewash Is also effective in killing