POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 13 November 1890, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES.

POULTRY LICE AND THEIR KIND. There are many kinds of lies, and they flourish when least expected. Lice work both day aud night, and give tho fowls no rest. When the bird is afflicted it begins to droop, and gradually dies ; but this only occurs when the premises are so over-run with tbe vermin that, the duat bath will not relieve the hens. The, kind that ia seen on the walls, and is bo small as scarcely to be found, ia the red mito. They can hide everywhere, and liko the bedbugs, work in the night. To dislodge them, pour kerosene into every crack and crevice, and 1 swab it well on the walls. • A cheapor preparation ia strong soap suds, adding a quart of kerosene to every gallon of the auds, applying the mixture boiling hot. Another kiud stioka to the skin, like a tick, and ia usually found on the heads of both adult aud chicks. One must look down at the roots of tbe feathers, close to the skin, to find them, for they at once begin to hide and are not easily found. They are known as the large e roy lice. To kill them apply sweet oil, or cotton- seed oil on tbe ekin, a few dropa only being necessary. If 10 drops of oil of pennyroyal are added to eaoh tablespoonful of the Bwoet oil, it will be a more efficacious remedy. Several kinds of lice, which are nearly of the colotur of tbe body, feed on the feathers, and find harbouring places under the wingß, To kill, them, dust the fowls well with fresh Dalmatian insect powder. There are inseot powders that are of but little value, m they are unless fresh. The powder is harmless to fowls and may be used freely. If the poultry house is kept free of lice, and a dust bath provided, the hens will keep themselves clean. The' roosts of tho henhouse should be well saturated with kerosene oil. at least once a week, and the poultry house should be overhauled once a month. The nests are favpurite hatching places for Hoe, and should be oleaned out once or twice a month. By keeping ithe bouse clean the hens will be in a better condition,, and lay. more, eggs as the .vermin debilitate the henß and render them useless., 3seep your poultry and houses - free from lice, with whitewash twice a year. Put it on thiqk and hot, and* thave it taixed wejl , with kerosene oil and fine salt. Give every laying box; and «ot>Bting>perch a thorough coat of 1 this mixture inside and out.. Sprinkle, powdered sulphur and carbolic- acid ' liberally into the nests and wherever the fowls are kept. Follow these simple rules' an &■ lice- will be-uaknowri to your stock. Neglect them, and lice will run rampant/and tha.chiokens droop and die.