SUCCESS IN POULTRY CULTURE 
which the pests are hiding and breeding. 
It is almost impossible to keep filthy 
roosting-places from becoming infested 
with mites. If, however, the droppings 
are removed every day, and the houses 
kept clean, the mites will not bother very 
much. As a precaution, it is well to spray 
the roosts, at least once a month, with 
coal-oil, and much oftener if there is any 
indication of their presence. Should they 
once get numerous, the whole building will 
have to be sprayed often for awhile to 
get rid of them. 
They are often called red mites, but 
their color is gray except when they are 
gorged with blood. At such times they 
appear to be red on account of the trans- 
parency of their bodies, which permits 
the red blood to show through. 
When a poultry house gets thoroughly 
infested with them, which it soon will if 
neglected, you will find them in the roof 
and everywhere. Should they get such a 
start in your poultry house, don’t get dis- 
couraged, for they are easily killed, and 
you can soon get rid of them if you 
go at it right. I know that a poultry 
house thoroughly infested with mites is 
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