108 LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING SECOND SERIES. 



But here is a point for the poultryman who is combating mites to observe. The mites 

 which escaped the first treatment were those which were most concealed, and, perhaps, 

 some brushed to the floor in the preliminary sweeping which had worked their way back. 

 My observation of mites on some pieces of board well covered with them to which I applied 

 road dust freely was that many of them were killed by it. But these mites, having worked 

 their way back to the fowls, and got a full feed, would not retreat to the inaccessible places in 

 which they had escaped the treatment, but stopped in the first place that afforded a refuge, and 

 after that one thorough application to all parts of the house I directed my attention exclu- 

 sively to mites found on the roosts in the morning, working on the theory that it was easier 

 to take time and gradually exterminate the mites as they remained on the roosts where they 

 were easy to get at than to try to follow them to their furthest possible hiding places. 



In the pen that hud been treated wholly with whitewash, I would turn over the roost in 

 the morning at intervals of two or three days, and whitewash it, thus killing all mites that 

 happened to be on it. In the other pens I would do the same thing with the other prepara- 

 tion mentioned. At each treatment the number of mites found became Jess until within 

 two weeks practically none could lie found, and they made no more trouble until the next 

 season. Then with the houses neglected for a little while they began to multiply, but were 

 quickly checked by a repetition of the treatment. I have since used C. N. in water whenever 

 traces of mites became numerous, but have never lound it necessary to treat more than once 

 a season. I suppose the better policy would be to make a thorough application, or possibly 

 two or three in succession at the beginning of warm weather, and thus prevent their increas- 

 ing to the troublesome points, but since my first experiment I have rather liked to have at 

 least one opportunity during the season to demonstrate that the red mites were not so trouble- 

 some a proposition if one made a thorough job of the treatment. 



The plain indication of the presence of these mites is found in their excrement, little grayish 

 patches, like fly specks, on the roosts and adjacent parts which they traverse. When you see 

 these speeks you may know with certainty that the mites are there. If treatment is begun 

 at once the mites may be practically exterminated with a few applications to the roosts and 

 adjacent parts where their tracks are seen. Promptness is important as much on account of 

 the loss of vitality to the fowls, and profit to the owner, as because of the greater difficulty 

 of getting rid of the mites when their numbers have greatly increased. 



With prompt and thorough treatment whenever signs of mites are observed, there is no 

 need of regular weekly, or even monthly, applications to prevent their increase. 



For lice on the bodies of fowls, as I have said, no treatment is necessary if the fowls are 

 vigorous and have an opportunity to dust as they wish. Lack of inclination to dust is a symp- 

 tom of lack of vitality. If a fowl showing such a symptom is found to be lousy, treatment for 

 lice may be given a time or two, but unless the fowl then with such other treatment as is neces- 

 sary on other accounts, begins to shows vitality enough to keep itself free from lice it is not 

 likely to be worth doctoring. 



It is when hens are incubating that they require treatment for lice by the attendant. They 

 may not suffer if neglected. Indeed I have had many hens go through an entire period of 

 incubation, bring off a good brood and rear every one with no treatment for lice at any time, 

 but the conditions during incubation are so much more favorable to the increase of lice, and 

 the annoyance of lice is so likely to cause hens to break eggs or leave their nests, that it is better 

 to take regular precautions against lice. 



Similarly with the chicks when hatched. I have this season a number of very thrifty broods 

 from nests which I allowed to become badly infested with lice. These chicks have had abso- 

 lutely no treatment for lice except the opportunity given them and the hen to dust as soon as 

 the chicks were ready to come from the nests. Some of these broods, after being kept for a 

 week or ten d-ays where they could dust at will, were put in coops on the grass with no dust 

 bath, but have shown no signs at all of lice. I do not advise this as a practice, but the experi- 

 ence is useful in showing how great a part the opportunity to take proper care of themselves 

 plays in keeping stock free from lice; and I think it will nearly always be found that by making 

 conditions unfavorable to lice and mites, and giving the fowls and chicks suitable opportunities 

 to take care of themselves, systematic and regular precautions against these parasites may be 



