2 Circular 213, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



summer when the weather is settled so that there is little danger of the 

 birds being rained on right after treatment. Begin treatment early 

 enough so that the birds will be dry by sundown. Treat every pigeon 

 and squab by dipping it in a solution of commercial sodium 

 fluoricl 1 ounce, laundry soap (hard) J ounce to 1 ounce, and water 

 1 gallon. The sodium fluorid may be measured by using -i level 

 tablesjDoonfuls to the gallon of water. The body of each pigeon 

 should be submerged in the solution until it is soaked to the skin. 

 The head of the bird is then ducked under and it is set free. If 

 it requires more than 10 to 15 seconds to wet the pigeon thoroughly 

 more soap should be added. Even the smallest squabs may be treated 

 without injury by this method, and all squabs should be so treated in 

 order that every louse may be killed. 



In order to prevent reinfestation no pigeon should be introduced 

 into the flock without first being dipped as above described. Pre- 

 caution against stray pigeons getting into the flock should be taken. 

 The flock should never be allowed its freedom because of the danger 

 of picking up stray pigeons. 



THE DUSTING METHOD. 



While the foregoing method is recommended for eradication, a 

 high degree of control may be obtained either by dusting sodium 

 fluorid with a dust can or by putting a pinch of sodium fluorid in 

 several places on the bird. Dusting by any method should not be 

 attempted if complete eradication is desired. It is probably due 

 to the closeness of the feathers that lice are not completely eradicated 

 by the dusting method. The dry treatment has the advantage of 

 being applicable at any season of the year. 



To dust the birds by the pinch method hold the wings back to back 

 with one hand and with the other put a small pinch of sodium 

 fluorid beneath the feathers next to the skin in about ten places dis- 

 tributed over the body as follows: One on the head, two on the back, 

 one scattered on each wing and tail, one on each thigh, one below 

 the vent, and one on the breast. A pinch of sodium flourid is the 

 amount that is retained between the tips of the thumb and finger. 

 For squabs which have not feathered sprinkle a very light dusting 

 over the skin with the fingers. As sodium fluorid is irritating to the 

 respiratory tract, the pigeons should be dusted in the open air and 

 be kept away from the young a short time till the free material is 

 shaken out of the feathers. A moist cloth tied over the nose of the 

 operator will largely prevent the irritation produced by breathing the 

 powder. When the dust can is used in place of the pinch method 

 the holes in the can should be rather small, so as not to waste material 

 or use so much that the birds are injured by inhaling too much of it. 



