660 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



Feather-Pulling Itch Mite One of the most common and trou- 

 blesome diseases of the poultry-yard is "feather-pulling" and an un- 

 reasonable shedding of plumage. The real cause of this trouble is a 

 very small mite, Sarcoptes Isevis, var., gallinse, which gets into the 

 lower part of the quill or root of the feather. These mites often fill 

 up the root entirely, causing the feather to become dry and brittle 

 and break off at the surface of the skin. The shedding of feathers 

 from this cause can always be distinguished from natural moulting 

 by the fact that in this case the feather breaks off. The itching 

 caused by the mites induce the fowls to help each other by pulling 

 out the infested feathers, hence the often-described affection, "feath- 

 er-pulling." The disease is highly contagious, and when a bird in- 

 fested by these mites is introduced into a healthy flock the parasites 

 are soon conveyed to every member of the flock. 



Treatment. The arsenical wash, or lard, sulphur and carbolic 

 ointment, well rubbed in, will suffice. "Schieg's Solution" may be 

 used with good results. This is composed of white arsenic and potas- 

 isum carbonate, each 1 drachm, 3 pints of water and 3 pints of vine- 

 gar. To prevent the disease spreading, remove the cock until the 

 danger is over. (N. C. B. 131.) 



LICE AND TICKS. 



The various species of lice affecting poultry are more numerous 

 than the mites, but since they do not suck the blood they are less 

 injurious. 



The Common Hen Louse. The only species found in abund- 

 ance throughout the country is known as Menopon pallidum 

 Nitzsch, the common "hen louse." This is pale dull yellow in color, 

 with more or less distinct darker marks on each side of the body, 

 although often after feeding it is reddish, or pinkish in color. The 

 length is about one-twentieth of an inch, the legs are six in number, 

 and the head is broad, rounded in front, with a small antenna or 

 feeler on each side. It is always without wings. 



This louse is very active, and seems to wander continually ovei 

 the skin or among the feathers, apparently looking for something 

 new, as any person will discover who handles a lousy hen. The eggs, 

 or "nits," of this louse are tiny, elongate, oval objects, with the 

 smaller end flattened and the larger end attached to the vanes and 

 barbs of the feathers. If conditions are favorable, the young issue 

 from the egg in about eight days, but they may be kept in a cool 

 place for several months without loss of vitality. The young louse 

 is much like the parent, having six legs and a broad head, but with 

 a rather smaller body. It keeps close to the body of the host, molts 

 several times, and in the course of two or three weeks, if not dis- 

 turbed, will reach maturity. Lice are not provided with mandibles 

 fitted to suck blood from a hen, but they use their short-toothed jaws 

 to bite off the epidermal scales, or dandruff, and the edges of the 

 feathers. The claws of the feet are sometimes very sharp, and con- 

 tinual pricking of the host draws blood, which is greedily eaten by 

 the lice. This accounts for the reddish coloi of many specimens. 



