Untreated lice and mites, what happens?

[Peaches2019]

Need answers on what happens if you don't treat mites?

 

[nuthatched]

They breed and breed and suck your birds dry, cause feather plucking, itchiness. A very slow, miserable death.

 

[raingarden]

... but some birds (chickens and others including wild birds) can live normal lives with a few mites. If the bird is healthy and has good personal hygeine they reach an equilibrium/steady state sort of thing. Besides preening there is an inflamitory and immune response that helps them combat mites. They probably still itch though.

But, if their health declines for other reasons (weakened immune system, stress, diet, old age, whatever) the mite population can suddenly explode and take the bird out in short order.

If every bird that got a couple of mites was destined to be consumed and killed by the cooties, then there would soon be no birds left. Soon after that, the mites would all die from the lack of a host.

 

[ValarieF]