Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-01

this. country and Canada, frankly
state that I am undecided as to just
what effect lice in moderate numbers
have upon matured fowls, but 1 have
a definite and positive opinion as to
their effects upon young chicks.
have seen hens, with these parasites
crawling about over their bodies. ap-
parently strong and vigorous and lay
ing consistently. But, as to the young
stock, we have sufficient evidence to
prove conclusively that the effect of
lice upon them is most harmful and
often fatal. and the younger the
chicks the more easily and seriously
are they affected. In view OF these
facts we should look with suspicion
upon the presence of lice on poultry
of all kinds.
Death and disease are often at
tributed to lice infestation when in
reality the presence Of the parasites
is due primarily to the weakened con-
dition of the fowls, brought about BY
disease which in a measure prevents
them from properly protecting them
selves against vermin.
Like the mites. lice multiply rapidly
in warm weather, but, unlike the
mites they live constantly on their
hosts. and do not feed on the blood of
the fowl The food of the lice is the
dead skin (the waste material of the
body) and parts of the P!umage.
Many different species of lice are
found on domestic fowls, and about
dozen on chickens alone, most OF
which confine their activities to re-
stricted areas All of these parasites
belong to that group of insects called
"Mallahago." otherwise known as bird
lice or biting lice. Their bodies are
Rrtt I'D
and covered with a hard protective
skin covering.
The most common of all the chicken
lice, according to Lamson and Manter,
is the large body louise. which lives
and feeds entirely upon the skin of
the body of the host. and without
doubt, when badly infested, the skin
is sometimes irritated: it becomes in
famed and sores appear on the sur
face, but as to whether this condition
is in every case caused by the biting
lbf the lice or by the picking and
scratching of the fowls themselves.
induced by the attacks of the lice,
am unable to say. The color OF the
body louise is yellow or straw color.
often with dark spots in the center:
these dark spots are due to the food
in the abdomen. The small body louise,
or the shaft louise, so named by Bishop
and Wood because of the fact that 1t
lives for the most part on the shafts
of the feathers, is very like the large
and lighter in color, and is found par
ticularly on the breast and back
feathers of well feathered chickens
and adult fowls. Another species OF
lice living primarily on the large
wing feathers, but also found on the
back, hackle and tail feathers, is the
wing louise. 1t can be rather easily
distinguished by its gray color ana
slender body. Another very common
species and one which doubtlessly
rivals the large body louise in its at
tack upon both young chicks and
injurious to the former. is the very
small, slender. dark gray louise known
as the head louise. This louise, while
it apparently feeds on the scales OF
the skin. lives on the feathers on the
top and back Of the head. although it
is sometimes found in other regions. |
This parasite. which migrates from
the hen to her chicks. docs not breed |
or multiply quite so rapidly as some
of the other species, but rapidly |
enough to injure the young chick soon
lafter infestation begins. and every |
Experienced poultryman knows that
IL. the infested chicks are to be saved
from death these little insects must |
be quickly gotten rid of.
besides the lice described above, |
which make chickens their hosts. |
there are several other so-called |
chicken lice" and also certain lice |
which infest turkeys, ducks and
Euipeas. Those which live on turkeys
alone are the large turkey louise and
which for the most part remain on
the plumage, and, while not usually
harmful to well grown fowls. often
seriously affect young stock; in fact,
poults seem TO succumb more quickly
than do young chickens. Strong,
vigorous fowls of all kinds, under
favorable conditions. seem to protect
themselves largely by taking advan-
tage of the dust bath. The effect of
the dust is to clog the breathing pores
in the body covering of the lice, de-
stroying them by sufrocation. The
fowls in small docks is to powder
both the young and old stock with a
good commercial louise powder such
as can be had from any reputable
dealer in poultry supplies. With large
f1ocks and on the commercial farms
combined with the use Of the dust
bath within the laying houses and ON
th6Ieange, and with the spraying OF
inaecti cides as previously described.
andre most chicks on such farms are
brpdtNd artificialIy and away from
il Mt5&s away, to a great extent, with
administrations. But with chicks
Rwk6E hens the danger of such infes-
tattS is always present. and close
wa4tA should be kept upon them for
'siIH4fpf the lice, which lay their eggs
upuE f6h@ feathers. to which they be-
cons frnly fixed. and which are usu-
aIlTs6ound near thhe base of the
feAt&ers and often in punches or clus
teeSahspAcially around the vent
:f4A eggs of the louise hatch, under
fat9Fable conditions. within from
fopS;tp seyen days, and the lice reach
ty 4Fithin from fifteen to seven
te<4lAays. the time varying somewhat
vi AEhe different species.
G6b1 6xProf. Lamson. at Storrs. rec
hded the poisoning of lice on
poultry by the use Of mercurial ONT
m4pEio blue ointment. The former
subStGncH contains about so per cent
ofHnsrcuky. the active poison: blue
ointHient Is mercurial ointment d.
lutkdf with vaseline. This can be
chsatl3y made by purchasing the mer-
curtaA oiptment and mixing 1t thor
ouH6E With vaseline in the proper
tiopHtpf one part Of the former to one
oriNeH OF, the latter. Either mixture
WINNIE found effective. This material
is blieA In small quantities to the
kixtunder the vent Of the larger
grO&4ng chickens and under the
wiAH Of. the younger chickens. 1t
was' 4bunl in the course of one OF the
onic4A tests that shortly after the ap-
plicAt1on of the blue ointment no lice
. remained and, according to Prof
SIAmaon, the lice Matched from eggs
Laid before the application Of the
ointment will also be destroyed or
driven on
Tho United States Department Of Ag-