Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 110, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1919 — HINTS FOR THE POULTRY GROWER [ARTICLE]

HINTS FOR THE POULTRY GROWER

The unsightly scaly legs and feet of many farm hens are another point of attack for the poultryman who is looking for higher egg production from, his flock. The scales are caused by very small mites which dig under the skin on the hen’s shanks and toes and push up the skin by the deposit of scurf which they leave underneath. The scales finally become loose, fall off, and are succeeded by more scales. The disease makes the fowl’s legs uncomfortable and even sore, thus keeping the hen from scratching and getting the exercise necessary to good health. When the hen’s health suffers, egg production is lowered. Hens affected by the disease rarely lay many eggs and they spend much time standing idle, with their sore legs kept carefully still. They are likely to lose weight and may even die. Dipping the legs of the fowl In a mixture of equal <parts of kerosene and linseed .oil is the simplest and most effective method of -curing the disease, says J. G. Halpin of the poultry department, Wisconsin College of Agriculture. The application should be repeated two or three- times in very severe cases. Early treatment of the disease will keep it from spreading through the flock.