If you have owned poultry you have probably dealt with mites, lice, or other creepy crawlers. One of the cock birds at home turned up with northern mites (correct me if I'm wrong). They are very tiny little bugs, smaller than lice. They appear to be specs of dirt moving around on the bird. Most commonly found around the vent area.
I wanted to see one of those little monsters under a microscope and thought you all would like to see too. I was planning on getting more on a slide but once they sense heat they go straight for you! and yes they do bite! They are very easy to treat (at least for me). I use Adams flea and tick spray and they are gone in a matter of days or less.
If they have a light load they often won't show discomfort. If it is a moderate or severe case their comb will become pale, they will lose weight, and they will also have a bad smell to them. It is hard to describe but once you smell it you will know it is mites. Their vent feathers will look like they have black dirt all over them. These are mite dropping and dead skin they are stirring up. When they are on your birds they will clump on the feathers and lay eggs like lice do. If there are particularly loaded feathers I will pluck them and dispose of them properly. You can add some red cell to their food to help with any anemia.
In my area these guys tend to show up a lot so just catching birds and checking often is the best way to keep them at bay.
I'll have to find some other things to look at under a microscope...
I wanted to see one of those little monsters under a microscope and thought you all would like to see too. I was planning on getting more on a slide but once they sense heat they go straight for you! and yes they do bite! They are very easy to treat (at least for me). I use Adams flea and tick spray and they are gone in a matter of days or less.
If they have a light load they often won't show discomfort. If it is a moderate or severe case their comb will become pale, they will lose weight, and they will also have a bad smell to them. It is hard to describe but once you smell it you will know it is mites. Their vent feathers will look like they have black dirt all over them. These are mite dropping and dead skin they are stirring up. When they are on your birds they will clump on the feathers and lay eggs like lice do. If there are particularly loaded feathers I will pluck them and dispose of them properly. You can add some red cell to their food to help with any anemia.
In my area these guys tend to show up a lot so just catching birds and checking often is the best way to keep them at bay.
I'll have to find some other things to look at under a microscope...
