DISEASES A]\W AILMENTS OF POULTRY 533 



at a time, as too much is injurious."* One pound of powdered 

 sodium fluorid will treat 100 fowls. 



Head lice are found on the heads of chickens of all ages, 

 but especialty J'oung chicks. These lice may be killed by 

 applying a drop of vaseline or melted lard to the top of the 

 head, under the wings, and around the vent. Clean manage- 

 ment and proper sanitation are safeguards against lice. 



Chicken mites are very small external parasites that differ 

 from lice, in being blood suckers, living on the blood of the 

 fowl. The mites hide in the cracks about the roosts and 

 droppingboards much of the time, especially during the daj^, 

 coming out at night and crawling on the birds. These pests 

 are easily gotten rid of by the use of kerosene or whitewash 

 about the interior of the poultry house. 



Stick-tight fleas are common on fowls in the southern 

 and southwestern states. They locate in clusters on the 

 comb and wattles and around the eyes. They breed in 

 cracks in the poultry house, and among refuse material. 

 Their attacks, if not prevented, may result in the death of 

 young chickens, and will cause hens to stop laying. Treat- 

 ment requires greasing the comb and wattles with a mixture 

 of 1 part kerosene and 3 parts lard. Poultry buildings should 

 be thoroughly sprayed with disinfectants or whitewashed. 



Crop-bound, or impaction of the crop, is due to swallow- 

 ing substances too large or coarse to pass on into the stomach 

 and gizzard. Small feathers, straw, roots, parings, etc. gen- 

 erally cause the trouble. In a well developed case of crop- 

 bound, it is recommended t to mix a teaspoonful each of 

 castor oil and hot milk, and pour through the throat into 

 the crop, followed with a gentle kneading of the crop with 

 the fingers, and softening the mass, if possible, so that it will 

 pass on through the digestive tract. Probablj^ it will be 

 wiser in most cases to destroy the affected bird. 



Bumble foot is a swelling on the bottom of the foot of 

 fowls, which is comparable with a "stone bruise." It is 



*Lice, Mites and Cleanliness. Farmers' Bulletin 1110, U. S. Dep't. of Agr. 

 tPoultry Manual. By F. L, Sewell, Ida E. Tilson and others. 1912. 



