ENEMIES AND DISEASES OF POULTRY 177 



to return. This application should be made on the 

 morning of the day the fowls are to be returned to 

 the house; after the liquid has dried sufficiently, fresh 

 straw should be placed in the nest boxes. 



6. The fowls should be thoroughly dusted with insect 

 powder immediately before they are allowed to return 

 to the house. They should be returned to the house at 

 dusk with the powder in their feathers so that they can 

 roost the first night without shaking out the powder. 



7. Sanitary conditions must be maintained continually 

 in the house and a strict watch must be kept for the 

 appearance of parasites, both on the fowls and about 

 the house. If this is not done the house is likely to be 

 reinfested with parasites. If parasites appear the house 

 should be thoroughly cleaned and sprayed again. To 

 maintain cleanliness the interior of the buildings, the 

 side walls, ceilings, roosting places, nest boxes, etc. 

 should be brushed frequently with a stiff broom, and 

 all filth should be systematically removed from the floor 

 before it has a chance to accumulate in any quantity. 



ANIMALS DESTRUCTIVE TO POULTRY 



Nearly all flesh-eating animals attack poultry when the 

 occasion offers. The animals that do the most harm to 

 the average poultry flock are wildcats, raccoons, opos- 

 sums, skunks, weasels, minks, rats, dogs, and cats. It 

 is said that the tiger of India and the smaller mem- 

 bers of the feline family hunt the peafowl and the 

 pheasant. Where foxes are found in the neighborhood 

 they will also attack poultry. The great proportion of 

 animals destructive to poultry hunt by night, and hence 

 if all openings in the poultry houses are closed with 

 wire netting, practically all of the animals most likely 

 to attack would be excluded. 



For the capture or destruction of animals destructive to 

 poultry the usual spring and box traps are used. 



