Mites and Lice on Poultry. 23 



among tlie feathers next to the skin about as follows: One pinch on 

 the head, one on the neck, two on the back, one on the breast, one 

 below the vent, one on the tail, one on either thigh, and one scattered 

 on the underside of each wing when spread. Each pinch can be dis- 

 tributed somewhat by pushing the thumb and fingers among the 

 feathers as the material is released. It is advisable when dusting 

 to hold the chicken over a large shallow pan, as in this way the small 

 amount of material ordinarily lost is recovered. 



The material may be applied by means of a shaker, but this method 

 has some 'disadvantages as compared with the pinch method. Small 

 nail holes are punched in the bottom of a can, which is provided with 

 a close-fitting lid on the other end. The material is then shaken into 

 the feathers with one hand, while the feathers are opened with the 

 other. This necessitates the presence of a second person to hold and 

 turn the fowl. When this method is followed the amount of sodium 

 fluorid used may be reduced by adding four parts of some finely pow- 

 dered material, such as road dust or flour, to each part of the chemical. 

 If the material is employed alone, somewhat more of it is used than 

 by the pinch method, and more or less dust floats in the air, which 

 causes irritation of the throat and nose. This can be avoided largely 

 if the operators wear dust guards over the nose or keep pieces of 

 wet cloth over the nose and mouth. Care should be taken to avoid 

 the burning effects of the chemical on the hands of the operator. 



Although the writers have not applied this material with a dusting 

 machine or revolving barrel, they are of the opinion that this would 

 not be thorough, might bruise the fowl, and would be irritating to 

 the air passages of the birds. 



For lice on young chickens, young turkeys, and, m fact, all newly 

 hatched fowls the application of sodium fluorid in the dust form is 

 recommended, rather than by dipping. This applies also to sick fowls. 



It is important in using sodium fluorid on young chicks to treat 

 them in the morning rather than just before they go to roost. Only 

 two pinches are needed for each chick provided the mother is prop- 

 erly dusted. One of these should be distributed on the neck, top of 

 head, and throat and the other on the back and below the vent. It 

 has been fomid that there is no injury to eggs provided a sitting hen 

 is properly treated. 



The application of sodiimi fluorid to pigeons by the dust method, 

 using about five pinches to each pigeon, has been found effective, but 

 for complete eradication dipping should be practiced. 



There seems to be a general sentiment among poultry raisers 

 against the practice of dipping fowls. This is probably partially on 

 account of the fact that the dips tried have been of an oily or caus- 

 tic nature and have tended to soil the feathers and in some cases 



