134 POULTRY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



cealed places, usually in cracks containing filth or in dirty nest- 

 ing material. The young mites are white and have only 6 legs. 

 Their first food is probably filth or decayed wood. They moult 

 several times and their cast skins are often seen as a white 

 powder on the perches. After the first moult the larvae have 

 8 legs. The mites are able to live and reproduce for months at 

 least without animal food, but when they are associated with 

 fowls the older larvae and adults depend upon the blood of the 

 fowls for food. They usually attack the birds at night but 

 sometimes are found feeding on laying or brooding hens during 

 the day. They pierce the skin with their needle-like jaws and 

 suck the blood. The irritation due to the biting of a number 

 of these creatures disturbs the rest of the bird and the loss of 

 blood may be considerable. The mites thrive best in dark, 

 damp, dirty houses and may be found in such houses for months 

 after all fowls have been removed. They will bite man or other 

 mammals, causing severe irritation, but do not remain on strange 

 hosts for any length of time. Fowls should not be allowed to 

 roost in sheds with other animals, as the sheds may become 

 infested with the mites which will disturb the other animals as 

 well as the fowls. 



Diagnosis. — If the birds are not doing well, especially if they 

 appear emaciated and dejected, they should be examined at 

 night for mites. In the day time the ends and under sides of 

 the roosts and the cracks in them should be examined. Num- 

 bers of the mites are often found by prying up a loose cleat or 

 splitting ofi^ a wide loose sliver. They may often be found in 

 old straw nests. 



Treatment. — Clean, dry, well ventilated houses which get 

 plenty of sunlight are seldom badly infested. The first step in 

 eradicating or controlling the pest is thoroughly to clean the 

 houses. Remove the droppings and all the old nesting material. 

 Clean and when possible scrub or wash with a stream from the 

 hose all the perches, nests, floors and walls. Spray or paint the 

 perches, nests, walls and floors with a 5 per cent solution of 

 cresol (see Chap. II for directions for making this). Prof. H. 

 C. Pierce has tested various remedies for mites and finds none 

 so effective as this- Use plenty of solution and make the spray- 

 mg thorough. Every crack and crevice should be flooded. 



