394 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



to live several months. In size the mite is about 1/40 of 

 an inch in length. If placed side by side 100 mites will 

 cover a space of one square inch. 



Control. The mite, though possibly the most destructive 

 of any poultry parasite, may be easily controlled. Various 

 control methods are used. 



Treatment 1. Kerosene, crude petroleum, and distillate 

 are effective. These will kill any mites they come in con- 

 tact with. The oil, however, may not destroy the eggs of 

 the mite. If the house is badly infested the whole in- 

 terior should be thoroughly sprayed. In a week or ten 

 days the application should be repeated to kill those that 

 may have hatched after first spraying, and if necessary a 

 third spraying should be given. If this is thoroughly done 

 the mites may afterward be controlled by spraying the 

 perches with kerosene or distillate, or a brush may be used 

 and the oil applied all around the roost. The nest boxes 

 should also be treated. 



Treatment 2. Instead of using coal oil or distillate in 

 spraying the roosts, carbolineum or other tar preparations 

 may be effectively used. Carbolineum is more effective 

 than kerosene for the reason that it will destroy the mites' 

 eggs as well as the mites when it comes in contact with them. 

 Nests of sitting hens should be thoroughly painted before 

 sitting; also the brooding coops. With any reappearance 

 of mites the application should be repeated. The paint 

 should be dry before the hens are allowed to use the nests 

 or roosts. It will soil the feathers and may affect the flavor 

 of the eggs. Brood coops should be thoroughly dried after 

 painting or the chicks may be injured. Crude carbolic acid 

 and kerosene or distillate, one part of the former to three 

 of the latter, is very effective for mites, applied as a paint 

 on the roosts and nests. 



Treatment 3. To five gallons whitewash add one pint 



