VERMIN IN FOWLS AND HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue VI, 7 March 1879, Page 2

VERMIN IN FOWLS AND HOUSES.

[To the Editor of the Evening Herald.] Sib, — Many of your readers may be pleased to learn my recent experience m easily and effectually ridding my fowls and fowl-houses of vermin, with which they were infested, owing, m a great measure, to the past hot and dry season. I had tried Persian powder, which was too expensive. I strewed sulphur m the nests and on the ground, and burned some m the houses, without any satisfactory result. It then occurred to me to try Hall's Sheep Dip. I got two gallons at the agents here, and diluted part m the proportion of seventy-five pannikins of water to one of dip, and after thoroughly cleaning out the houses (which I do weekly for the guano, and renew the floor with a bed of fresh, dry earth), I sprinkled the floor freely from a watering-pot — washed out the nests of the hatching and laving rooms (the hens had deserted their half-hatched clutches, and the others had ceased laying and looked and were miserable), scrubbed and washed the roosts, and dashed the mixture all over the roof and sides. I have not seen or felt a beast since, now three weeks ; and previously, taking up an egg, was a ticklish operation, and and cleaning out gave me a " thorough practical experience" of the fowls, discomport for some time. I have as yet used but one gallon of the " dip," but shall make assurance doubly sure by using the other very soon. I only fear that the guano may, mixed with the dip be injurious to seeds or plants ; I shall soon know. The hens are now hatching peacefully, and do not appear to object to the pungent smell still remaining, which appears to have had the effect of cleansing'their bodies, and all the fowls —some 160— and much improved m laying and appearance. I trust the interest of many unprofitable poultry farming, to which the insect plague is very detrimental, will excuse the length and intrusion of this letter. I am &c, CICAIATHAUATOS.