The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-05

Insects are enemies of flock profits. Heavy infestations of hens by para sites interfere with egg yield and exert an objectionable effect on the general condition of the flock, inasmuch as they are a source of annoyance and discontent. During the winter sea- son when, in many sections, the fowls are maintained indoors much of the time, it is particularly essential that the fowls be protected against losses from mites, lice, and other obnoxious vermin which multiply in the poultry dwelling.
 Knowing that poultry mites hide away in cracks and crevices during the daytime, the vital control which should be immediately enforced is
 thorough cleaning of the interior of the houses, roosts,s and nests, and thereafter a spray thoroughly with kerosene, crude oil, or some heavy coal-tar preparation. It Is highly i'm perative that the spray should pene- trate to all the cracks, crevices, cran- nies, and corners where the mites may be hiding. The heavy coa1-tar pre- parations are most effective and most enduring in control work of this sort. They can be purchased at most drug stores with full directions for mixing and use.
 Forty Thieves of Flock Profits. There are more than 40 distinct i species of lice which are a source of continuous annoyance to adult | poultry, as well as to the young l chuckens, according to poultry spe- | cialists of the United States Depart ] ment of Agriculture. The fact that the army of invaders is so numerous
 and variegated is of special moment and necessitates persistent and con I tinuous control practices. At pres | ent, when the prices of all feeds are | abnormally high, it Is particularly es- | sential that the poultryman realize l the maximum return from his ex- | penditures for feedstuffs. To such l an end it is needful that all such unwelcone guests as lice, mites, and other ravaging marauders be barred 1 from the flock.
 Dust Bath for Biddy.
 There should be a place in the yard or house where the hens car l dust themselves in the dry dirt. If ii
 is necessary to provide an artificial road dust or fine dirt, should be | made constantly accessible to the l matrons and misses of the flock. The l hens must be kept as free as pos. 1 sible from infection by insect enc | mics, and if the birds themselves
 can not gain this end by individua
 dusting the owner should institute
 artificial control measures.
 To rid the hens of lice each one
 should be treated by placing smal pinches of sodium ffuorid, a 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 on either side, and one scattered on the under side of each wing when spread An other method is to use a small quan
 tity of blue ointment, a piece abou as large as pea, on the skin one incl
 below the vent. If mercurial oint
 ment it should be diluted: with al
 equal quantity of vaselne. Any O
 these methods will be found very eff
 fective in ridding the hens of lice, am
 should be employed whenever the lie become troublesome. Two or thre Implications a year usually prove suf Ificient..
 Mites are more troublesome an . more harmful than lice. They do no
 live upon the birds like the lice, bu during the day hide in the cracks an l creVices of the roosts and walls o , the house, and at night they emerg
 and wander around upon the fowls They suck the hens blood, and if al
 lowed to become plentifu1-as the . certainly will if not destroyed-wi ! seriously affect her health and con
 sequent1y her ability to lay eggs. The may be eradicated by few thoroug applications of kerosene, or some C the coal-tar products which are sol
 for this purpose, or crude petroleur to the interior of the poultry hous, , Crude petroleum will spray better
 thinned with one part of kerosene t four parts of the crude oil. Both tn \ crude petroleum and coa1-tar pro
 ducts often contain foreign particle zEszz..sssz.ssaIN CORPORA 1s5srzsss