Red mites on chickens the same as in compost pile?

[Backyard Hencam]

We have red mites in our compost pile which I've been told are a normal part of the composting process. Are these the same red mites that are found on chickens?

So far we do not have red mites on the chickens but I am concerned. I you have information on this I would appreciate it.

 

[patandchickens]

No they are not. The roost mites and fowl mites do not survive long off the birds (and are smaller than the freeliving red mites I'm familiar with, although there are doubtless smaller types in existance too).

So, not to worry at all

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Thank you patandchickens.

I knew there would be someone on this site that would know!

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

Quote:
I have seen red mites out in our yard. How do I know if these are the bad kind? You said the chicken ones cant live off of the chickens for long? So if the ones I am seeing are the ones I have always seen BEFORE we had chickens, we are ok????

 

[ChickenCat]

What you might be seeing in the compost are red clover mites. not harmful to animals or humans. just leave an orange spot when mashed.

 

[Sissy]

can red mites be seen
on the chickens?
under their wings?

 

[Judy]

You can see mites and lice, and their eggs, on chickens, but they are tiny. They are usually easiest to see around the vent, but you will also see them under the wing and around the neck. They may be on the skin or in clumps going up the feather shaft.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Quote:
Here are a few links on clover mites- take a look at the pics and see if these are what you've got. If so, they only eat lawn and garden material (which is probably why they're loving you compost pile- it's practically a SMORGASBOARD

) As ChickenCat said, they are harmless to humans and pets, unless you have a pet clover

http://abestpest.com/clover-mites-c-11.html

http://prairieecosystems.pbworks.com/f/ImgD0701062 mite cu.jpg

http://bugguide.net/images/raw/SL4Z...LWZXLVZILJHUHHR4HTHSLCHRLPZ8HVHHLUZXLVZ7L.jpg

This link has just about everything you need to know about identifying poultry mites or lice, but from what you're describing, I'm guessing you've got a nice case of red clover mites.

 

[hillerfamily]

they probobly wont be the same mites the red or brown mites are the only brown or red mites ive heard of so far which are body mites.

 

[patandchickens]

There are innumerable kinds of mites in the world that are red colored, the very vast majority being free-living (i.e not ectoparasitic on animals). Free-living red mites mostly do not bite people, but, some do (when I was a kid there were what we called 'sidewalk mites' that would bite).

For what it's worth, CHICKEN mites come in three common types (and some uncommon types I will ignore here) - scaly leg mites, which you are not going to actually see themselves, just the raised lumpy ugly areas they cause on the birds leg scales; the northern fowl mite, which lives almost totally on the chicken (tho you may see a few on bedding or roosts or eggs, or crawling on *you*) and they're teeny tiny and dark grey-brown; and roost mites, which spend the day hiding under the roost or in other places in the coop and crawl onto the birds at night to feed, and are more red-colored.

Chickens can get (and give) mites to other kinds of birds; but not to people or other mammals or other creatures. And, the free-living nonparasitic mites (which, again, accounts for the vast majority of mites in the world) do not bother chickens.

So, if you are seeing mites IN YOUR COOP, they are probably Bad Characters; but if you are seeing mites anywhere else e.g. your compost pile, they are virtually certainly harmless to your chickens. (Though, wild birds passing thru can leave behind some of their parasitic mites that chickens can then pick up... but you will never SEE those mites til they become an infestation on your chickens)

Does that help any?

Pat