Mites? How do you know?

[MedSchlFarmers]

How do you know if your chickens have mites? What are the signs? My inlaws did not know their chickens had mites until they themselves had mites and went to the dermatologist. They are treating chickens and themselves now. We are new to chickens and I have small children, so I'd love to recognize the early signs, if possible, before my kids get mites one day. Thank you!

 

[MrsBrooke]

External parasites on chickens are extremely species specific. If your in laws are infected with lice/mites, they did NOT get it from their chickens.

The creepy crawlies that bug chickens are poultry-specific. Kids, dogs, cats, in-laws, neighbors, etc cannot get poultry lice. It is a biological impossibility.

As for your question about how to tell if your chickens have them... Beyond a visual exam that consists of checking the base of the feathers surrounding the vent for their eggs, you can watch for lethargy, pale comb/wattles/face, decrease in egg production, scratching, pulling feathers, and a general malaise.

Treatment for lice/mites is Sevin dust once every seven days for three weeks. That gets lice/mites, their eggs, and any that may have hatched in between treatments.

I hope that helps.

MrsB

 

[MedSchlFarmers]

Oh, good to know. Could they have gotten mites from any of their other animals? Horses, dog, cats, etc? The dermatologist gave them a cream to put everywhere and then again in 10 days. The also bought powder for the chickens, but my mother in law said she thought the chickens seemed fine. (4 buff orpingtons about 2.5 years old).

 

[MedSchlFarmers]

The affected area was their shoulder and underarm area.

 

[MrsBrooke]

I have no idea, but I know chiggers are a pain (and enough of them can trigger an allergic, eczema reaction - ask me how I know

) and a flea will bite a human as soon as anything!!

But poultry lice and mites only bother birds.

I am sorry for your relative's troubles. I hope they are able to resolve their situation quickly!

MrsB

 

[MedSchlFarmers]

Great information, thank you!