The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1924-05-29
LICE AND MITES
BY w. c. MCCOY
Poultry Specialist

II may seem to you that external
parasites are of no economical i'm
portance, but when you have really
given treatment to a flock and have
seen egg production pick up and the
general health of the flock improved,
then you will be convinced that these
little insects extract their toll in the
form of eggs, vitality, vigor and gen
eral healthfulness.
have often observed focks that
seem to be infested. The owner
would declare that his birds had not
been anywhere to bring them in, but
when the birds were examined many
lice were found. 1t will pay to ex-
anime your birds for lice, and exam
inc the roosting place for mites for
these are present on practically every
farm, and too, these two little insects
are the ones that do the most dam
age.
Lice may be eradicated in several
ways. First, by the use of sodium
f1uoride (both as a dust and as a
dip,) or some home made insect pow
der. Second, by the use of equal
parts by weight of mercurial oxide
| (blue ointment) and vaseline. Third,
by the use of some commercial insect
powder.
A good louise powder can be made
by taking one-fourth pint crude car
bolic acid; three-fourths quart gaso-
line, and 2 IL pounds plaster of pa
ris. Add the liquid to plaster of paris
slowly and stir the mixture thor
oughly until all the liquid has been
added and is taken up by the plaster
of paris. If you do not care to mix
the powder yourself, sodium fuoride
can be secured from drug stores in
very convenient size cans. This can
be applied as a dip or as a powder.
The pinch method may be employed;
this consists of taking a pinch be-
tween the thumb and index finger and
putting it in the following places:
head, neck, back, breast, fluff, and
under each wing. Again sodium fiuo-
ride can be busted in the feathers.
Hold the birds head down and with
perforated top can, dust the powder
in the feathers. Dipping is advoca-
ted to some extent, providing it is
done on warm days. Five ounces of
sodium fiuoride added to five gallons
of water will be sufficient to dip one
hundred birds One pound is suffi-
cient for 900 birds. In dipping be
careful to hold the head Of the bird
out of the dip.
Greasing is considered by some
poultrymen to be easiest and most
economical method. After mixing
the equal parts mercurial oxide (blue
ointment) and vaseline, apply small
piece about the size of pea just be-
low the vent. This treatment is suf-
! ficient to kill the lice and the little
lice that hatch from the eggs that are
! fastened to the base of the feathers
at the time of treating.
The mite is sucking insect and
, it feeds during the night. During the
day it STAYS hidden in the cracks and
] crevices of the house and under the
roosts. They inhabit the entire house
but are found in the largest numbers
nearest the roosting place Of the
fowls.
Heavy infestation of these insects
cause much loss to poultrymen. A
flock that has to worry all night with
these insects cannot be in good vigor-
Gus condition next day. Many nights
of worry and loss of blood will soon
put a flock in serious condition.
The first step in the control of this
pest is to clean the houses thorough
ly, burn all nesting material, all lit
ter and all rubbish of any kind in the
house. Take out all movable parts
Then spray the house and parts with
kerosene crude oil, or any strong dis
infectant. A coat of whitewash is
very effective, especially when one
pint of crude carbolic acid is added
to each gallon of whitewash. Spray
or paint the whole house with this
solution. Carbosota is used to a
great extent. This can be secured at