. Diseases of domesticated birds. Poultry; Poultry; Birds. EXTEENAL PAEASITES 215 The parasite is widely distributed throughout the world. Its depredations are more serious in warmer countries because of favor- able climatic conditions. Habits. During the daytime the mites collect in cracks, or under droppings and rubbish. They make at night to the birds on the roost where they cause annoyance while engorging with blood. Occasion- ally mites will attack hens on the nest during the daytime. When engorged, the mite leaves the bird. Some mites that fail to become engorged the same night
. Diseases of domesticated birds. Poultry; Poultry; Birds. EXTEENAL PAEASITES 215 The parasite is widely distributed throughout the world. Its depredations are more serious in warmer countries because of favor- able climatic conditions. Habits. During the daytime the mites collect in cracks, or under droppings and rubbish. They make at night to the birds on the roost where they cause annoyance while engorging with blood. Occasion- ally mites will attack hens on the nest during the daytime. When engorged, the mite leaves the bird. Some mites that fail to become engorged the same night they gain access to the bird, will remain on the host during the following day or so. Thus hens have been found to carry as many as a hundred mites dur- ing the daytime. Eggs are laid in the places sheltering the mites, and hatch in two days or niore depending upon the ^^^ \^ ^.^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ temperature. The larvae hatching from of the chicken mite, unfed, the eggs shed their skins in about two ^ITwooi)^'^''^^^' '^'^'"'^'^ days and become nymphs. After several engorgements and molts, the parasite reaches maturity. The whole life cycle is complete in a week. The parasites are not active in cold weather. In the absence of poultry, mites will remain alive in in- fested houses for four or five months. Moisture seems to favor their longevity. Injtiry caused by mites. Excessive mite infestation has been held responsible for increase in cost of maintenance, decrease of egg laying and general unthriftiness. Sitting hens have been driven by the irritation, to abandon the nest. The attack of the mites rarely leaves a trace on the skin. Combating mites. In combating the pest, it is recommended that aiU interior fittings be removed so as to minimize the number of cracks in which mites could escape the action of the spray. If the house is of the older type, with built-in accessories such as perches and nests, everything should be torn out leaving merely the four bare walls. The wh
Size: 1451px × 1723px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectpou
