Are red mites harmful to chickens?

[ChickForLife]

I aterted ltting my chicks into the run for periods of time and I came upon red mites. I know black mites are harmful to chickens but are red ones?

 

[LaFleche]

If you mean Dermanyssus gallinae, yes they are harmful as they will suck the chickens blood at night.

 

[ChickForLife]

No, I saw them during the day, I think velvet mites or something?

 

[Folly's place]

There are a zillion types of mites, and only a very few affect chickens. Don't bother attacking every 'bug' out there, concentrate on the few who live on the chickens, or the mites who live in the coop and infect the birds at night.
Go out there at night when they are roosting, and look at the birds with a flashlight, around their vents, under wings, and necks and backs, at skin level. Treat them if even one bird has a few!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Those kinda cute fuzzy red colored mites aren't hurting the chickens! I don't know what they do eat, but they aren't a problem.
Mary

 

[ChickForLife]

There are a zillion types of mites, and only a very few affect chickens. Don't bother attacking every 'bug' out there, concentrate on the few who live on the chickens, or the mites who live in the coop and infect the birds at night.
Go out there at night when they are roosting, and look at the birds with a flashlight, around their vents, under wings, and necks and backs, at skin level. Treat them if even one bird has a few!
Mary

If they do have it, which they don't, how do I treat it?

 

[Folly's place]

Permethrin spray concentrate from the feed store is least expensive and easiest, ot the permethrin dusting powder, also from the feed store. You need a N95 dust mask, or respirator, long sleeves, and gloves to be safest. Actually the lung protection is most important when doing anything out there that raises dust and dander.
It might be years before your birds get mites or lice, or it could be next week. just check at least a few of them every week or two, and treat if needed.
Mary

 

[cmom]

I agree with Mary. First I would check the birds. I use a headlamp so I have my hands free and after the birds have gone to roost and check them over. If you have a TSC you can get permethrin poultry dust, the premixed spray or the concentrate. Also over the counter lice shampoo for people to treat head lice contains either pyrethrins (Rid or Triple X) or permethrin (Nix). Both are effective treatment. Both only kill live pests, not eggs.