Lice Powder

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 August 1911, Page 4

Lice Powder

I'OR TIIK DI'ST BATH

During the warm days of .summer you will notice that the fowls, and the chicks, aiso, lie down and roll about in the dry dust ami thoroughly shake themselevs afterward. Tihafc is the dust bath, and semingly the fowls enjoy it immensely. The dust bath is the method nature has provided the fowls for keeping themselves free from lice and vermin of all kinds, whiult is probably the main reason why the fowls indulge in it. The dust bath also aids the plumage to retain its natural brilliancy.

When the fowls arc on free range during the summer it is seldom necessary to supply dust to tlieiu as they find plenty of dust- heaps at hand, but if they are to have the benefit of it in the winter the supply of dust will have to be gathered before cold weather comes and stored awav until read yfor use.

To this end a few barrels of dry dust should be collected in the autumn and placed in a dry place where dampness will not reach it. a box filled with this dust can then be kept in the hen house all the time, and the- liens will benefit- by it as much as in the summer time. The dust in the box should be renewed once or twice a week, and not allowed to become til thy. Afc the time of collecting, tho dust should be sifted in order to dis-.-ard all stone and lumps. In regard to the above it might be added: 'fake a small handfhll of louse-killer -say. two tnblespoonI'ulls—and mix well with the dust bath in the dust box every time fresh dust- is put in. The lousekiller is made by mixing well together one-half gallon ot' gasoline and one-half pint of crude carbolic acid. To this is added enough plaster of

pan's to ma!:" a ': 'e _ r' ! the mixture stand o-. might ft tV j gasoline to cxaperaie. when in 11:r» j morning it wi'l 1 f I s - ! : ; ■ lor. This recipe will make • enough I'mise-kilV- ■ !,. j neighbourhood, sv ' ■ ' ; j may he used' if desin-d. Keep the ; mixture awav from lire and .lamp , until the gasoline ha/; evaporated. \ and even then it is best to be can- i Hons in hamlli'i"; it- near a flame. - If the house, and fixtures are kept clean, and this powder is u'ed in the ■ dust bath as des:-rib«'l. there will be j no signs of li'-e. It will <li-iv«> <ho I lice out and will not hurt the birds j