96 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



Insect 

 Vermin. 



not unreasonably, after the pains and expense 

 we had incurred, and considering that we had 

 " stood it " to the tune of over a dozen Brahma 

 chickens. Cats are easily caught in a trap 

 made just lik-e a box mouse-trap. In two cases, 

 before our fencing was put up, we found that 

 energetic treatment from the hose of a garden 

 engine made more extreme measures un- 

 necessary. But others braved even that rather 

 than forego the deHcacy of live chicken. 



The more common difficulties in rearing 

 chickens are insect vermin, bowel complaints, and 

 curtain affections of the feet and legs generally 

 knov/n as cramp, the last specially attacking 

 tiiose hatched at unnaturally early seasons. If 

 it is understood from the first that all three are 

 very common dangers, very much will be done 

 already towards warding them off. 



Insect vermin ought not to trouble any 

 poultry-keeper who only rears a brood or two 

 in the year. Supposing cleanliness and disin- 

 fection properly attended to in the 

 stock and house, he need not be 

 afraid for any of his hens ; and if a 

 borrowed or hired one has been set, she should 

 have been examined and treated beforehand, as 

 already recommended. Still he should be care- 

 ful ; and it is as well to give the hen a thorough 

 dusting with pyrethrum insect powder before 

 putting her out with the brood. That should 

 be enough. But as stock is multiplied, it be- 

 comes more and more difficult to fight the 

 insect fiend ; and whenever chickens appear 

 not to thrive and grow while with the hen, yet 

 no definite ailment can be found, in most cases 

 the cause lies here, and both hen and chickens 

 sliould be rigorously examined. They may 

 probably be found infested with insects of 

 various kinds, not all amenable to the same 

 treatment. 



Fleas, if found at all, are very unusual, 

 harbouring more in houses than upon the birds. 

 Lice are most common, and will be found chiefly 

 under the wings, on thighs, round the vent, and 

 round the throat. A thorough dusting in of 

 insect powder, all over every bird once or twice, 

 will usually be sufficient, or powdered sulphur, 

 carbolised,* letting the hen also have access to 

 sulphured dust-baths frequently. Besides this 

 the chicks may have just a touch on the places 

 named, and on the top of the head, with oil or 

 vaseline containing a few drops of paraffin oil. 

 This will keep them reasonably free, and lice 

 are only injurious when in numbers, from the 

 irritation they cause. Far worse are ticks, which 

 attack chickens more often than is supposed, 



* Powdered sulphur rubbed up with a little carbolic acid, 

 without losing its apparently dry and powdery condition. 



and are believed to reach them not only from 

 an infested hen, but from other animals. The 

 tick is a large insect in comparison, which 

 half buries its head in the victim's skin, and 

 sucks its blood, both the pain and loss of vital 

 fluid causing the chick to pine away. Ticks 

 will not be found, like lice, on the under parts 

 of the body, but solely on the head, throat, and 

 top of the neck. Neither do they swarm like lice, 

 but must be looked for singly and with great care, 

 every point of head and throat being gone over. 

 If all can be picked off, it will probably be 

 sufficient for a single brood, but will take much 

 time and care ; and it is better to apply a 

 dressing of one ounce mercurial ointment, two 

 ounces lanoline, and half an ounce paraffin oil. 

 This is applied scantily but thoroughly to the 

 skin over the head, with a touch under the 

 throat. Some prefer a wash made by boiling 

 three parts of water, and then stirring in one of 

 paraffin oil, applying thoroughly with a rag but 

 not drenching the plumage. When there has 

 been former trouble with ticks, it is best to 

 apply the above ointment within the first day 

 or two, which will prevent trouble. It is to be 

 remembered that mercury is poison, and though 

 careful application diluted as above will do no 

 injury, any excess in quantity might do so. 



The red mite, so dreaded in fowl-houses, can 

 only attack chickens by gross neglect, or if they 

 are confined at night in the house, as it lives 

 generally in nooks and crannies, and only visits 

 the birds to feed. A little oil mixed with one- 

 fifth part paraffin oil, applied at the neck, under 

 wings, on thighs, and near the vent, will be 

 some protection ; but these creatures must be 

 fought chiefly in the house itself, where they 

 live and breed. A coop should be quite free, 

 and easily kept so. 



Bowel complaints very often cause loss and 



trouble, the more so where many are reared. 



The unwise use of hard-boiled egg has already 



been alluded to as apt to cause mischief; and 



the want of ample and regular green 



^™!,io;„t» food is another frequent cause, as is 

 Complaints. , , ^ , ^ . „ ' 



also a lack ot sharp grit. Green cut 



bone does not necessarily occasion such com- 

 plaints ; but there are so many cases where it 

 appears to have done so, that we included it 

 amongst our cautions. Avoiding these known 

 occasions of such mischief, bowel complaints 

 should seldom occur ; but wet or chill, or 

 occasional sour food, or over-crowding, or un- 

 known causes, or accidental circumstances, may 

 notwithstanding set up a diarrhoea, which is 

 disastrous if not checked at once. In any case 

 it should be treated immediately. Very young 

 chickens often get quite plastered up around 



