Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1922-05-06
KEEP CHICKENS
FREE Of MITES
BY Prof. Byron Alder
Poultry Husbandman, Utah Agricul-
tural College.

The mite has a gray color with
brown spots on its back when not
filled with blood. 1t lives and breeds
in cracks and corners in and around
The perches and nests; going on the
fowls usually at night only long en-.
ough to suck its body full of blood,
then craving off to some secluded
place. The accumulation of dropping
and filth in poorly ventilated, damp
house affords very favorable eondi-
lions for this very numerous enemy.
Keep the building well ventilated and
clean. Spray the entire inside twice
yenr with whitewash made in the
ordinary way with one pint of crude
mrbolie acid to each gallon of white-
| wash, then paint the perches once
week with kerosene after adding
| about ounces of carbolic acid to Il
! gallon. Keep this mixture in a ma.
chine oil can and soak thoroughly ali
tracks or corners that show any in.
1ication of mites as often as they are
seen, and the building and fowls will
soon be free from one of the smallest
out without doubt one of the worst
IF poultry pests.
Lice live and breed on the bodies of
the fowls and feed on the surface
scales around the base of the feathers.
II the fowls have a dust bath or dust
Nallow there will be but few lice
IN their bodies An occasional dust.
n xrifh
ng which the fowl is held by the
legs, and the powder slfted from
'erforated can and rubbed we'll into
the feathers with the hand, will aid
sreatly in freeing the bodies of the
,hickens from this pest. A good pow
Ter may be made by taking one part
resol to three gasoline Mix this
thoroughly then add enough unfib.
cred plaster, a little at a time, stirring
continually, until all the liquid has
)een taken up, giving a tan or pink.
ish powder. Blue ointment is also an
excellent remedy for lice. This is q
poison and should be handled care
fully. Take a small piece about the
size of pea and rub it we'll into
the base of the feathers on the abdo-
men in the fluff just below the vent
| Scaly leg, which is caused by very
, tiny insect getting under the scales
of the legs forcing them out and
causing the legs to appear rough and
| inotty, is very common among the
} general purpose fowls. This disease
l.. s. not noticed by many until the legs
! are swollen so much that the fowl,
an hardly walk. 1t is easily con
) trolled by rubbing the legs in tn,
r 'arly stages of the disease with lart
, ind kerosene equal parts, or by thu
2 application of vaseline or other oil,
mixtures.
These pests do not often kill 8
I fowl, but they sap the vitality ant
: weaken hen so that she lays few
Or no eggs, and is readily overcome
by some minor ailments that woult
vigorous animal.
All diseased birds should be isolat
: ID as soon as any ailmcnt is noticed
: so as not to endanger the rest Of this
flock, in case they should have q
contagious disease.
For colds or Group disinfect the
drinking water by adding A or drops
Of carbolic acid to each gallon of wa
ter or the amount of permanganate OF
potash that will stay on a dime. Stir
thoroughly.
Keep the fowls in clean, sanitary
~ hA, ,t,o
vigorous birds.
Do not overfeed or make the hens
lazy. Avoid feeding rood with strong
Favored or partially spoiled food OF
any kind.
The following references are given
for further study and more detailed
Information. Farmers bulletins may be
obtained free as long as the supply
lasts by applying to the U. S. De.
partment of Agriculture, or to one of
the Utah Congressman in Washington,
ID. G.
Farmers Bulletin No. PA, Method
of Feeding Poultry.
Farmers Bulletin No. PSF, Poultry
Management
Farmers Bulletin No. 52s, Hints to
Poultry Raisers.
Farmers Bulletin No. 574, Poultry
House Construction.
Farmers Bulletin No. 594, Shipping
4 Eggs by Parcel Post.
Utah Experiment Station Circular
No, Il, Housing Farm Poultry.
Growing weeds love lazy farmer.
4 flower in the front yard is worth
4 dozen in the forest.
Farmers who plant their potatoes in
the moon are likely to reap their
harvest in the stars.
In dry countries water is worth
more than gold. But who would allow
a stream of gold to go to waste rs we
all allow water to do?
Every day that alfalfa is allowed to