146 POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



are termed 'partial parasites' — parasites that only go to their 

 hosts to feed. The fleas are not noticed on the birds because 

 they generally attack them at night; then, however, they do 

 much harm, causing constant irritation and loss of blood, and 

 depriving them of rest." 



''Life-history of Hen Flea.- — The female flea lays her eggs 

 (nits) chiefly in the nests amongst dust and dirt and in the 

 crevices of the walls and floor. These nits give rise to pearly 

 white maggots, with brown horny heads, which can often be 

 found in the bottom of the nests amongst the dust. These larvae 

 are mature in 2 or 3 weeks, then they reach about 1-6 of an 

 inch in length. In warm weather they may be full fed in 

 even 10 days. They then spin a pale cocoon amongst the dirt, 

 in which they pupate. The pupa is at first pale brown, then 

 dark chestnut brown. In this condition the flea remains 10 to 

 21 days, when the pupa hatches into the adult. They breed 

 all the year round, but chiefly in warm weather. It is well to 

 remember that, whenever there are dark and dirty hen roosts, 

 there are sure to be a number of Piilex gallinae." 



Treatment. These parasites do not usually occur under sani- 

 tary housing conditions. When they occur the houses should 

 be cleaned and sprayed as for red mites (p- 134). Theobald 

 recommends the use of excelsior or shavings instead of straw 

 for nesting material as the fleas do not breed as readily in this 

 material. 



