Mites and Lice on Poultry. 27 



least two, and perhaps more, applications are necessary to destroy 

 all lice. 



Mercurial ointment or blue ointment has also been advised. It has 

 been found that the use of this material as recommended will greatly 

 reduce the number of body lice but has little effect on the head and 

 wing lice. When several times the amount usually recommended 

 is applied to a number of places on a fowl it is quite effective, but 

 the cost of the material and treatment is greater than in the case of 

 sodium fluorid, the use of greasy material is objectionable, and burns 

 result. 



A number of other compounds, many of which contain pyrethrum, 

 are advocated. These also fail to accomplish complete destruction 

 of the lice. For head lice on young chickens carbolated petrolatum 

 applied in small quantities has been found quite satisfactory. Medi- 

 cated nest eggs, said to control poultry lice, are on the market. 

 For the most part these consist largely of naphthalene. While this 

 material will destroy lice when applied generally to the fowl, it is 

 markedly injurious to the hen's eggs a"s well as to the bird. If used 

 in quantity, or if the medicated eggs are allowed to remain for a 

 considerable length of time beneath a hen, she may die as a result. 



SUPPLEMENTAL CONTROL MEASURES FOR ALL PESTS. 



OMckens will not give adequate returns in eggs or groivth vjJten Icept 

 under insanitary conditions. The construction of the poultry house 

 should receive first attention. Adequate air space, lightmg, and 

 ventilation should be provided, and the entire house should be 

 cleaned out at frequent intervals. While these things can not be 

 depended upon to control mites and lice, they aid the poultr^^man in 

 determinmg when these pests are present, and, furthermore, the 

 fowls are kept in vigorous condition, which in itself is conducive to 

 the control of various pests. Diseased fowls, or those with mal- 

 formed bills or feet, fall ready prey to lice, mites, and other msect 

 pests. The suggestions given in previous pages for the construction 

 of roosts and nest boxes should be followed, even though the build- 

 ings are new and otherwise properly arranged. 



DUST BATHS. 



While it is well to provide a good 'dust bath for chickens, it can 

 not be depended upon for louse and mite control. It is far better to 

 eradicate the pests completely. The main difficulty about depending 

 upon dust baths for lice is that some fowls seldom dust themselves, 

 and those which dust freely never free themselves completely. The 

 dust bath should be kept under cover and may consist of fine road 

 dust with coal ashes added. 



