Red Mites Control
Red mites, scientifically known as Dermanyssus gallinae, are ectoparasites; which means that they live on the surface of the animal or host. These mites infest various bird species so if you have pet birds or you have a chicken coop in your backyard, it is best to keep checking them for symptoms of red mite infestation.
If you notice any symptom, it is essential that you immediately undertake certain red mites control measures since untreated infestation can lead to anemia, a type of blood condition where values of red blood cells are lower than the normal values.
While they may also feed on other mammals, even humans, they need a bird host to help them breed.
Red Mites Infestation
If you suddenly find some of your young chickens dead or they have become sickly and anemic; you might already have a red mite infestation. These mites feed off on birds during the night and then they hide in cracks and crevices during the daytime to lay their eggs.
Other symptoms that you should watch out for include lower egg production, your bird has completely stopped laying eggs and tiny specks of blood on the eggs. If you notice any of these symptoms, check the cracks and crevices in your chicken coop or bird house.
If you see tiny gray or red specks moving about, you have just confirmed your red mite infestation.
As mentioned, it is important that you immediately address the infestation upon discovery to prevent them from doing more damage to your birds. Since these mites feed off their host for about one to two hours, blood loss can be severe.
Red Mites Control Measures
Keeping your bird cage or coop clean all the time and ensuring that no cracks or crevices are present are two ways to prevent infestation. You can also use special wood treatments that repel mites and other bugs.
If you use chemical products, make sure that they are safe for your birds and you use several types, alternating one product with another, so the mites won’t develop resistance to the products.
There are sprays as well as liquid solutions that you can use on your birds to kill off the mites that are feeding off your birds. The liquid solution is usually applied around the neck area of the bird and once the mites suck on the blood of the birds, the chemicals on the solution will paralyze them and ultimately kill them.
It is important to keep monitoring your birds and also keep checking their houses once you have started treatment to ensure that no mites have survived or have started infesting again.
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