Mites On Ducks?

[donaquijote]

I had my male Pekin duck, Mr. Pickles, to the Avian vet to check his eyes. All very healthy! However, the vet assistant noticed a mite in his feathers. Are mites a problem with your ducks? And if so, how do you get rid of them?

 

[casportpony]

I had my male Pekin duck, Mr. Pickles, to the Avian vet to check his eyes. All very healthy! However, the vet assistant noticed a mite in his feathers. Are mites a problem with your ducks? And if so, how do you get rid of them?

If you live in the US, the preferred treatment for both lice and mites is permethrin, and you must treat both the birds *and* their coop. This is what many people use:

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

If you live in the US, the preferred treatment for both lice and mites is permethrin, and you must treat both the birds *and* their coop. This is what many people use:
View attachment 1621483

Should a Permethrin-treatment be done on a regular schedule as a precaution?

 

[sourland]

@donaquijote , very interesting post. Do your ducks have access to swimming water ? I have never had a mite problem with ducks, but mine spent minimal time in coops and had daily access to swimming water. I wonder what others have experienced. @casportpony has provide a solution/control.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I’m kind of shocked the vet didn’t give you a treatment plan and
Medications. Even if it was the assistant who caught it. Don’t they include a examination with a scheduled visit? Baffling simply baffling.

 

[casportpony]

but mine spent minimal time in coops and had daily access to swimming water.

Someone I know caught a Muscovy at a pond and it had mites, so it's not unheard of. The hens seem like they are more prone to getting them and I'm guessing that's because of the time they spend laying eggs and nesting.

 

[sourland]

Someone I know caught a Muscovy at a pond and it had mites, so it's not unheard of. The hens seem like they are more prone to getting them and I'm guessing that's because of the time they spend laying eggs and nesting.

For me a common husbandry practice was the treatment of nest sites for brooding chickens and ducks. This started after I lost a broody chicken hen to a massive mite infestation. What you post makes sense.

 

[PirateGirl]

For me a common husbandry practice was the treatment of nest sites for brooding chickens and ducks. This started after I lost a broody chicken hen to a massive mite infestation. What you post makes sense.

This in interesting as my one and only (so far) mite infestation coincided with a persistent broody.

I would be concerned some when spraying or dusting ducks with permetherin about them possibly contaminating their water and then drinking the water. I would definitely treat overnight and withhold water until the next day at least.

 

[Going Quackers]

I know a dusting powder exists that can be used on them because i own it and have used it on chickens, generally though waterfowl worry me because of them bathing and it coming off into the water...

ANyways, none of mine have but it can certainly happen and i agree with others on the broody beasts being more at risk and those probably housed with chickens.

I'll also agree lol with the poster who said why did the vet not suggest or do anything? Isn't that what your paying for??

 

[casportpony]

This in interesting as my one and only (so far) mite infestation coincided with a persistent broody.

I would be concerned some when spraying or dusting ducks with permetherin about them possibly contaminating their water and then drinking the water. I would definitely treat overnight and withhold water until the next day at least.

This used to concern me too, but not now. What concerns me more is them bathing and washing off the pesticide making it less effective.