DISEASES OF CHICKENS 149 
is handy. I have seen them in old houses, 
hiding behind some box on the side wall or 
under some roost so thick it looked like a spot 
of red paint. When they were struck with 
a hammer there would be a spot of blood. 
Hens cannot be expected to do their duty 
under these conditions. The result is re- 
duced egg production and even death of the 
hens. 
All coops housing old fowls should be 
sprayed with kerosene, using a hand spray 
pump, which costs about $3.75. This power- 
ful spray will get into all crevices and if con- 
tinued regularly will at least keep the mites 
down to a point where they will not be dan- 
gerous. 
Farmers are troubled more with lice and 
mites than regular poultrymen are, because 
their coops are not as accessible to cleaning 
and because the farmers are often neglectful. 
Setting hens are bothered terribly with these 
pests, often being killed right on the nest, 
but more often leaving the nest with a hatch 
half over. 
Scaly leg is also caused by a similar mite 
parasite, which burrows beneath the foot and 
lee scales and gradually forms a crust or 
scale which is very unsightly looking. Since 
