Identify this mite

[leecb]

I have a photo of one of the mites we’ve been battling. It’s very close-up so forgive its graininess but wondering if it can help determine if they are red mites or northern fowl mites. I believe they are red mites because I see them in the litter, not the chickens. Thoughts?

 

[alinas2010]

Arg sorry you have to deal with mites. They’ve been the bane of my existence this fall.

It can be very tough to tell the types from each other. Northern fowl mites tend to live on the birds but I’ve seen them creeping off my birds onto the roosts, too. Red poultry mites will usually be on the birds only at night.

Here are links to information about each mite:

https://poultrydvm.com/condition/poultry-red-mites

https://poultrydvm.com/condition/northern-fowl-mites

Regardless of the type, both mites ca be treated using a permethrin poultry dust or liquid. I would go for the powder right now because it is winter (not sure where you live). I’ve never used the liquid kind myself, but if you need help I can guide you on the powder. Be sure to treat the whole flock and clean out the coop bedding/nesting material (burn or bag and toss, do not put into your compost pile or reuse), and then spray or dust the coop very well, especially in the crevices.

If you have a vet to work with, you can also get Exzolt by prescription for a less hassle way to treat the flock for either mite:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/using-exzolt-for-northern-fowl-mite.1681455/#post-28953407

 

[leecb]

Thank you! This is very helpful information. I’m going to save this as I continue to monitor my chickens. I’ve treated both the birds and coop with elector psp and then spread sulfur powder around their run, under bedding, and in dust baths. I’m going to continue monitoring and see how that works. Since I’m treating for both, I guess I don’t need to know which type of mite it is but I wish it were more clear!

 

[leecb]

Another question, do you know how long they live in compost? I had previously composted some bedding that I’m now worried was mite-infested and I am wondering if I need to dispose of my compost pile too.

 

[alinas2010]

You’re welcome! Yes that seems like a great treatment regimen check very carefully every few days for a few weeks to see that the mites disappear.

I believe I read that without a host northern fowl mites will live for up to 4 weeks if they were well fed. Red poultry mites up to 9 months in the environment without a host - according to the link I posted above.

Yikes, the red poultry mites live a long time without a host. I suppose it is better safe than sorry and disposing of the compost pile is best, especially if your chickens have access to it. If they don’t have access to it, I’m really not quite sure about the implications. There is likely a risk of them spreading still to any wild animals that go through the pile and then those mites dropping to where the chickens could pick them up. It might be worth posting that as a question to other users. Maybe someone has experienced that situation before.