332 Farm Poultry 



and unprofitable if not given proper care. It has 

 been estimated that a single pair of lice may pro- 

 duce, through the quickly successive generations 

 which would be reared within three months, more 

 than 100,000 individuals. As the weaker fowls 

 of the flock are most likely to be infested, lice are 

 often detected by the unthrifty condition of such 

 birds. Upon examination, large numbers of these 

 lice may be seen crawling over the skin underneath 

 the feathers. They will likely be most prevalent 

 on those parts which the fowl cannot reach with 

 the beak. 



Remedies. Fowls may be effectually treated 

 in several ways. Substances may be put upon the 

 bird which will poison the lice, or the pests may 

 be driven off by making the fowl an uncongenial 

 home for them, or they may be killed by the appli- 

 cation of substances, like oil, which stop the breathing 

 pores and thus cause them to die of suffocation. 

 The last plan is preferable in the case of the young 

 chickens and weak fowls. Little chickens when 

 but a few days old are frequently infested with 

 lice from the mother or from the surroundings. 

 As these little chickens are delicate, a few lice will 

 cause serious trouble. In this case, it is usually 

 advisable to place a few drops of oil on the head 

 and perhaps on the wings and throat of each chicken 

 Sweet oil or lard oil may be used. Other oils of 

 about the same consistency may answer the pur- 



