186 Lice on Chicks and Aged Fowls 



SYMPTOMS 



The bird at first makes repeated efforts to lay and fina^lly stands 

 around with symptoms of distress. The egg can be felt in the body cav- 

 ity just below the vent. 



TREATMENT 



Sometimes these eggs can be removed by gently manipulating the 

 parts with the hand. To hold the effected parts in hot water for a half 

 hour before manipulation will often aid in delivery but sometimes it is 

 necessary to break the shell and remove a portion at a time. 



EGG EATING 



Egg eating may be an accidental habit due to a bird breaking an egg 

 or it may be due to lack- of grit or oyster shell. The lack of such pro- 

 ducts not only produces a soft shelled egg but it makes a tempting food. 

 Lack of water invites egg eating. 



TREATMENT 



Supply grit and oyster shell or bone meal or lime, feed a protein 

 product as beef scraps, oil meal, bran, tankage or sour milk. Some re- 

 port good success by the use of china nest eggs and scattering a few 

 around for the hens to pick at. Some empty a shell of its contents and fill 

 the shell with red pepper, aloes, mustard or something to give the egg a 

 bad taste. My experience leads me to believe the habit can be materially 

 checkd by oyster shell feeding, grit feeding* and plenty of water. Dark 

 nests aid in breaking the habit. 



LICE ON CHICKS AND AGED FOWLS 



Lice more often develop by not destroying the lice when the houses 

 are cleaned. They can be destroyed in the buildings by cleaning the drop- 

 pings and nests and spraying all parts with common kerosene. Soon 

 after hatching lice are found on the top of the head and in the down be- 

 low the vent of the young chickens. When lousy hens are used to set on 



