Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-11-14
Feed Hens Not Parasites;
How to Kill Lice and Mites
Quartz Fowl Weakcn ct by Disease First


most destructive to hen happiness
These species never leave the bodies
or feathers of the fowl. Although
differing somewhat in size and ap-
pearance, they are all equipped with
peculiarly arranged legs, which facil-
itate 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.
Hen Coolies Never a. w. O. l..
Inasmuch as poultry lice remain on
the fowls nearly all the time, the
most efficacious treatments are those
which are applied directly to the
birds. Sodium fuoride, powder
which can be purchased at most drug
stores, is an effective remedy, being
exceedingly poisonous to all kinds
of poultry lice. 1t should be applied
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 operator should
exercise care not to inhale any of the
powder as it irritates the nose and
throat
Blue ointment is another effective
remedy. In using it apply a small
portion-a piece about the size of a
pea-with the fingers arounds 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 pois-
onous.
Repeat Treatment IL Necessary.
If mercurial ointment, a similar
preparation, is used, it should be
diluted with one-half the quantity of
vaseline or lard. Lice powders of
various sorts are also on the market
and may oftentimes be used with good
results. They should be we'll busted
into the feathers, working the mate
rial in with the fingers, especially un-
der the wings and around the vent to
make sure it reaches the skin. If all
the lice are not killed by the first
treatment the fowl should be dusted1
again in week or 10 days and as
often afterwards as necessary.
Poultry lice 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
During the day they hide in cracks
and crevices, behind boards that are
near the 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 cause mature fowls to become
pale in comb and poor in flesh; sit
ting hens will desert their nests and
spoil their eggs, If they do not die on
the nests. and chickens will become
weak and droopy, and in many in
stances die from the attack. In con-
trolling mites the primary essential
is to subject each house, roost, and
nest to thorough cleaning, followed
by an efficient spraying with kero-
sene, crude oil, or some heavy coal
tar preparation, making sure that the
spray penetrates all cracks and crew
ices where the mites may be hiding.
The heavy coaltar preparations are
most effective and last the longest.
They can be purchased at most drug
stores with full directions for mixing
and using.
Control by Complete Cleanup.
Whitewash is also effective in kill
ing mites and other vermin and
should be used freely in spraying
poultry houses, roosts and other
equipment for protection of the lay
ing hens and pullets against insects
In badly infested houses it is advis-
able to cleanup as soon as possible,
and about two days later to apply a
thick coating of whitewash, made by
shaking half-peck Of lime, diluting
with 20 gallons of water, adding one
pound Of salt previously dissolved,