352 Farm Poultry 



Laudanum is especially valuable when consider- 

 able pain is manifest. 



RATS 



Rats sometimes become very troublesome in 

 poultry-houses, and the question of their extermi- 

 nation is often a most perplexing one. Precau- 

 tionary measures are usually the most satisfactory. 

 If the buildings are so constructed that rats can- 

 not burrow under them, the battle is largely won. 

 If, however, the rats find suitable homes about 

 poultry-houses, and cannot be driven out by ordin- 

 ary methods, much annoyance and often severe 

 loss may result. When traps and cats will not 

 suffice, more extreme measures must be adopted. 

 Sometimes it is advisable to remove the fowls 

 temporarily and hunt the rats by means of ferrets. 

 In some cases it may be necessary to resort to poison- 

 ing. In a general way it may be stated that animals 

 should not be poisoned except in extreme cases. The 

 author has on several occasions found it necessary 

 to use poison to rid the premises of these pests. A 

 little strychnine was placed in each of many small 

 pieces of cheese. These little pieces were dropped 

 into the rat holes and other places frequented by 

 the vermin, care being taken in every case to cover 

 the holes with boards so that the fowls would be 

 prevented from gaining access to the poison. While 



