Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-10
The Three Groups of
Chicken Lice
Bv DE-. B. Z. kaupp

There is one parasite that, per-
haps is more prevalent than any
other, and that is the louise. Eternal
vigilcnce is the price of success in
keeping the flock free from lice.
Lice affect the health of the laying
and breeding bird, and hence the
fertility, hatchability and Inability
of the chicks. Too many times we
pass lightly the fact as to whether
our birds do or do not have lice and
the fact that it is very essential that
they he kept free.
The Head and Neck Louise
The head and neck louise is one of
the most troublesome. ii is shown
in Fig. / accompanying this article
The louise is shown here magnitied
several diameters as it was seen
through Il microscope II has three
pairs of legs and a rather pointed
head and lying to the left is an egg
These eggs are cementcd to the
feathers in the region Of the fowls
throat and can be felt by the thumb
and foretinger by rubbing this
region. In looking for lice it is nee
essaly to not forget the head and
neck as these lice may be found here
and nowhere else.
The Body Louise
The body louise is somewhat diff
lerent IN appearance than the head
and neck louise as shown in Fig. .
This picture too was photographed
through a microscope and shows how
the parasite looks when magnified
The actual size of these two para
sites is about that of the head of an
ordinary pin. The body louise is
found on any part of the body.
usually in the vent fluff region where
it may lay its eggs cementing them
together in large masses often num-
bering thousands.
Depluming Lice
Still a third kind is the depluming
louse which is shown in Fig 3. This
is noted TO be longer than the other
two kinds of lice and deplumes the
bird. That is, this louise lives on the
large wing and main tail feathers
and eats. the barbes and barbules.
destroying the web of the feather.
We have. seen nothing but the mid
ribs and quilts left in fowls where
they were attacked by large numbers
of these lice. Such a condition is
produced in less than a weeks time
Effects of Louise lnfestation
Chicks Matched in the incubator
are free from lice and stay so until
placed with lousy hens or chicks. or
in quarters infested by lice. Lice
produce much irritation; the effect
ot large numbers upon birds is quite
marked. The lousy birds scratch
pick at the feathers, show signs of
being drowsy, may refuse to eat, and.
In growing birds, development is re-
tarded
Young chicks infested with lice
ootten sit around, moping. with wings
hanging down, and in a week or two
Ole. For this reason brooder chicks
sometimes thrive better, grow faster.
and are freer from certain ailments
than chicks hatcheds by tile hen, II
mas been said that lousy birds show
a greater tendency to wallow in the
dust than those not infested.
The effects of lice on older birds is
not so severe as upon younger ones.
Out Is noted in conditions of flesh
ana IN the production of eggs and in
their fertility and hatchability as
Wen as Inability Of the chicks. The
irritation is sometimes so severe that
hens desert the nests. Their combs
may become dark. Birds unable to
rest day or night become emanciated
and die wv
How to Examine for Lice
Grasp the bird. with the left hand
py the legs put your right foot on a
nox or other object that is about a
1901 hlgh. Rest the body of the bird
on the knee and with the right hand
part the feathers and observe for
ice. Commence at the head and
proceed down the back, BODY and
vent fluff. If lice are present thew
VIII be observed as small light oh.
1ects darling in among the feathers
anu running over the skin with the
exception of the depluming lice. n
tne depluming lice are present they
WlII appear as light brownish long
llne- like bodies lying between the
oarbes of the web of the feathers
and are easily seen in the large VIM
or tail feathers of white ph1ma pc
nlrds. The lice eggs are found in
large clusters attached to the barnes
lice infest INC
How Lice Multiply
Lice multiply by LAYING egos
Whlch they cement to the feathers
In a few days these eggs hatch into
slnall louise which very much re-
sembles the adult but much smaller
IL rapidly develops to full size and in
week or two will begin to Law eggs.