55 



In British Columbia the vermin pest is even greater, though this is 

 needless, than it is in any other part of Canada. But it can be controlled 

 with comparative ease if proper methods be adopted. 



So great has been found this plague to fowls that certain concerns have- 

 found an eager market for all kinds of patent fixtures for the positive 

 prevention of the vermin pest. I term such fixtures luxuries aud stamp them 

 as non-essential. But it will be necessary for us to know something of the 

 kinds of vermin which infest poultry houses and the fowls themselves, as 

 well as something of the nature of the same, before we can intelligently 

 discuss their prevention as pests. 



Vermin pests are of tvro kinds, viz., lice and mites. 



The lice stay on the fowl and are mostly the large grey louse. 

 Kinds of Lice on Fouls. 



1. Lescer lice. — These are a small louse similar to the large grey louse. 



2. Large hen louse. — Very common and very prolific; it trails a tickler 

 behind it. making a very irritating sen.sation ; lives chiefly on feathers. 

 Hence it is a parasite and stays on the bird all of the time. 



3. Burnett's hen louse is similar, though not so large as the large hen 

 louse. 



4. I'hickcn louse. — This louse is usually found ujion young birds, is very 

 small and very prolific. 



5. Long chicken louse is similar to above, but different in shape, as its 

 name denotes. 



6. Common lien louse is a medium size, with habits similar to all of the 

 above. 



In fact, all of the six kinds of chicken lice above-mentioned are similar 

 in their habits as they are In appearance, though differing much in size. Some 

 are so small that they can scarcely be seen with the naked eye; other so 

 secretive in liabits as to be scarcely discernible among the feathers. The 

 lice usually .seen on the bodies of birds are the "large" and the "common" 

 lice. When lice are plainly seen, even though it be only one here and there, 

 it is a sure sign of greist numbers of the pests. 

 Among the varieties of lice there is also : 

 The conunou duck louse. 

 Squalid duck lou&e. 

 Clear duck louse. 

 Clear goose louse. 

 Biting louse of turkey. 



Mites. 

 These are of (wo kinds, viz.: — 



1. Chicken mile (4 legs), sometimes white and grey, but blood-red when 

 full. 



2. Itch mite. — About 1/80 of an inch in length, thus being so small as to 

 be not discernible to the naked eye. It affects the legs and comb. 



The chicken mite bites the fowl and suclcs the blood, and when a poultry 

 house becomes infected with this worst of all pests, such a thing as a good 

 healthy fowl soon becomes impossible. The chicken mite leaves the body of 



