Delousing

Red mites (dermanyssus gallinae) is the most common mite found in poultry. Red mites are gray until feeding on blood, turning them red. Mite infestations can cause weight loss, skin irritation, feather damage, low egg production, reduced fertility, retarded growth in young birds, and in extreme cases, death.

Diagnosis:

Lift the tail feathers and blow on the feathers around the vent area to expose the vent. You will see very little red mites scurrying around, and possibly a gray colored nest attached to the skin.

Treatment:

• Sevin Dust
• Ivomec
• Diatomaceous Earth (natural alternative)

To treat fowl for red mites, apply a small amount of Sevin dust to the vent area, and under the wings. Make sure to retreat your birds 10 days after the initial treatment, and pick off any nests still attached to the vent area.

Along with treating the birds, you need to thoroughly clean there bedding and roosting areas, and spread Sevin dust around liberally on everything afterward, as red mites can live off the bird for approximately six months, and will re-infest your birds after they come in contact with the mites again. Make sure you put it in the nesting areas, on roosts, and in dusting areas.

Also, you can take mites with you from pen to pen on your clothes, and body, so if you find mites, it is a good idea to check all your birds. The treatment of Ivomec is actually a wormer, but it is very effective in keeping mites from coming back because when the mites bite the bird, the Ivomec affects them.