54 



POULTRY DISEASES 



Life History. — The engorged female drops to the ground, 

 from the hen, and finding a hiding place under some object, 

 lays her eggs, which, if the weather be warm, hatch in a 

 few days into the six-legged, asexual state. Upon gaining 

 access to chickens it begins to draw blood and molts, finally 

 reaching the eight-legged, sexual state. It is now ready to 

 again reproduce. 



Symptoms of Infestation. — Large numbers of 

 ticks cause trouble similar to that caused by num- 

 erous lice. The parasite, being a blood-sucker, 

 robs the host of considerable blood and causes ir- 

 ritation. The birds do not thrive, sitting hens 

 leave their nests, laying hens cease laying, young 



Fig. i6. Argas Miniatus 



IIY""""""""' ■'i*'i"""'"*iLl» 

 ItL-mlCi'^".- '-""/"iillwJll 

 JILm"l«""' ""/;1/,.„„I'1L 



''- V. ' '»...X 



Fig. 17. AcANTHiA Inodora 



birds make but little growth. Badly infested 

 birds may die. 



Treatment. — Combat the parasite with sanitary 

 measures, as outlined for the prevention of lice, 

 lice. (See page 40.) 



THE BEDBUG OF POULTRY 



The chicken bug or dove cote bug is known as 

 the Acanthia inodora. It is often found around 

 unclean roosts and dove cotes. It is closely allied 

 to the bedbug, from which it requires a micro- 

 scopic study to differentiate it. 



