CHAPTER XIV. 

 DISEASES OF THE SKIN, LEGS AND FEET. 



1. Lice. 



When once hen lice gain a foothold they increase very 

 rapidly and become a perfect nuisance to the hens and the 

 owner. In some cases they spread to other buildings and 

 get on the stock. Hen lice are very small and have a red- 

 dish appearance. 



Causes. — Dirt, filth, neglect of disinfection and proper 

 care is usually the cause. Lice may be introduced into a 

 clean house and healthy flock by birds that are infected 

 with the parasite. 



Symptoms. — These are at once apparent — ruffled fea- 

 thers, constant picking and finally loss of vitality. We have 

 seen cases become so bad that the hen simply sat down in 

 a corner, gave up entirely and died. 



Treatment. — The first step to be taken to get rid of the 

 hen lice is to drive all the hens out of the hen house, close 

 up the windows and doors, put a pound of sulphur in a pot, 

 put some coals in it to start the sulphur 

 burning, and keep it burning for about 

 half a day. The fumes from the sulphur 

 will go into all the cracks and thoroughly 

 fumigate the place and kill the lice. After 

 this open the doors and windows and 

 clean the place out thoroughly and put 

 in plenty of hardwood ashes and coal 

 dust for the hens to roll about in. This 

 kills the lice on the hens. In the course 

 of a week drive the hens out of the hen 

 house again and burn sulphur as you did 

 before ; this will rid you entirely of the 

 pest. Watching the hens and giving them 

 107. Brahma. Aplenty of ashes and coal dust to roll in 



Chicken Louse Magnified. ^ kgep the ^ Qff them aftef ^ R 



is also a good plan to feed plenty of sulphur and new milk, 

 give every night, two tablespoonfuls of sulphur to a quart 



