Feather mite in chickens: treatment and causes

How dangerous are parasites for chickens?

Scabies, blood-sucking, and other types of mites that parasitize chickens bother poultry more than fleas or lice eaters.
Dangerous ectoparasites cause severe exhaustion, disrupt the barrier function of the skin, worsen the condition of the feathers, and at the same time are carriers of many deadly infections. Ticks are widespread in nature and are active in the warm season. They feed on blood and elements of cellular structures. Parasites live on birds' legs, in feather pouches, feather follicles, and in the upper and deep folds of the epidermis.

In domestic chickens, mites cause the following diseases:

1. Knemidocoptosis of the body (body scabies). The disease is caused by ticks of the genus Knemidocoptes. They live in the deep folds of the epidermis. They provoke inflammation and destroy dermal cells. A characteristic sign is the appearance of small nodules on the body. This type of mite can infect the legs.
2. Epidermoptosis (skin-eaten scabies). Caused by the epidermoptes mite. It parasitizes feather follicles and fluff. It provokes feather loss and acute inflammation in various structures of the dermis.
3. Cytolichiosis, cytoditosis, sternostomosis. The disease is caused by a tick from the genus Cystodis. It parasitizes the bronchi and upper respiratory tract of birds.
4. Malophagosis. The disease is caused by ticks. They live in the subfeather space, under the wings, and infect the feather spine.

Chicken infected with feather mites

Ixodid ticks, which are ubiquitous, do not pose a particular danger to chickens. Parasites feed on blood. In rare cases, females attack a bird, but after drinking blood, they fall off. If you find an ixodid tick on the body of a bird, do not panic. They are not dangerous for poultry.

Conditions caused by infection

The appearance of parasites on chickens can be caused by certain types of mites, which can be identified by certain symptoms.

Itchy feet

Caused by the Knemidocoptes mite living under the horny covering of the legs, the entire life cycle of the parasite takes place on a chicken. When exposed to the external environment, the parasite can remain viable for up to one and a half weeks.

The mite affects all breeds of chickens; the parasites can be carried by sparrows. Chickens with hairy legs are less susceptible to infection.

Mite infestation occurs in chickens from 3 months to six months; it manifests itself as inflammatory discharge on the birds’ legs, the horny scales rise and become lumpy. If the lesion is long-lasting, growths form on the legs, hiding inside the numerous passages made by the parasite.

Body scabies

Feather mites in chickens can cause baldness in chickens and the appearance of areas of exposed skin. The peak of the disease is the warm season.

Affected birds are restless, pecking themselves in areas of baldness, experiencing itching. When magnified, subcutaneous tubercles and gray scales are visible on the skin.

Carpet beetle

Caused by the oval mite Epidermoptes, which is most active in the warm season. The parasite infection is first localized on the chest, then gradually covers the entire body of the bird.

Feathers fall out at the affected areas, the skin is red, inflamed, covered with small scales and yellow-brown crusts. The chicken looks disheveled and the skin smells of inflammation and rot.

Lung mite

It affects birds from the age of four months, the peak of infection occurs in summer and early autumn. The chicken is breathing heavily, in an attempt to inhale, she stretches her neck and raises her beak high, when examined, mucus is noticeably released. Light pressure on the neck provokes a cough. Chickens quickly lose strength and fall into a coma.

Infection can be determined after examining the contents of the air sacs.

Ixodid ticks

Chickens are affected by such parasites in rare cases; they do not threaten the livestock.

Red chicken mite

A hungry individual is an oval, yellowish arthropod up to a millimeter long. After feeding, the red chicken mite doubles in size and turns purple; it feeds and attacks chickens at night, so it is best to check the infestation of the flock at night in bright light.

Ticks only parasitize birds, live and reproduce in the upper layer of litter, but sometimes they can be found during the day under the wings of chickens.

During its development, the parasite goes through several stages of transformation during which it feeds on blood. It is quite difficult to get rid of them; they tolerate cold temperatures, prolonged fasting, and hide in cracks.

The parasite has the ability to crawl into natural openings on the chicken's body, causing itching and inflammation. If chickens are infected with a colony of parasites, the birds will die within 24 hours from blood loss and exhaustion.

Adults tolerate infection with difficulty, stop growing and reduce egg laying by half.

Argas mite

Distribution area: southern regions. The parasite is nocturnal and its life cycle can last up to 3 years. After feeding it doubles in size. It can be detected on the bird at the time of feeding. It is also dangerous for people, as it can carry many infections common to humans and birds - tuberculosis, salmonellosis.

When bitten, a toxin is released that affects the nervous system of chickens and forms foci of inflammation on the skin. Tick ​​bites can cause death in young animals, reducing the productivity of adults.

Types of bird mites and signs of infestation

There are several bloodsuckers that parasitize these animals. Some live on the skin of chickens, others live in the feathers (see photo). Feather mites are most common in chickens, but can also parasitize other birds - turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, members of the pigeon family, and parrots. The same applies to the scabies bloodsucker. Each of the avian arachnids causes different diseases: feather - syringophilosis, scabies - knemidocoptic mange. The red chicken mite is a carrier of dangerous diseases such as plague, borreliosis, cholera

Feather mites

The feather ectoparasite, like other representatives of arachnids that parasitize chickens, is small in size. The length of its slightly elongated body barely reaches 1 millimeter. For this reason, it is difficult to notice parasites that have infected the inhabitants of the chicken coop. They bite all the feathered inhabitants of the barn: laying hens, broilers, roosters. From a nutritional point of view, Syringophilus bipectinatus chickens are not as interesting as sexually mature individuals. Ectoparasites most often affect birds older than 6 months.

For reproduction and a comfortable existence, such mites prefer to choose the warmest areas of the bird’s body. They can usually be found on the neck and under the wings of a chicken. Due to the fact that they settle in the edges of the feather, they are also called edges. Parasites live not only on the host’s body, but also in the subcutaneous folds of the epidermis. They penetrate inside through the slit-like canaliculi of the feather papillae.

In advanced forms of syringophilosis, ectoparasites move into the victim’s nostrils and into the area near the eyes. Outside the host's body, they can live for about 10 days. These representatives of arachnids feed on blood and exfoliated skin cells and have a gnawing type mouthparts. Parasites usually attack chickens at night.

You can recognize such an uninvited guest of the chicken coop by the following signs:

• Significant reduction in egg production.
• Self-pecking. Tick ​​bites cause unbearable itching in birds. To somehow calm it down, they peck themselves, which often leads to the formation of bleeding, inflamed wounds on the skin.
• Loss of body weight. Sick chicken coop inhabitants, experiencing pain and itching almost around the clock, partially or completely refuse food, which leads to exhaustion.
• Deterioration of the condition of the feather cover. In the affected areas of the bird's body, feathers become dull and brittle. Their core part darkens.
• Bald patches. Due to damage to the skin and constant self-pecking, feathers begin to fall out, exposing inflamed red skin.

Scabies mite in pigeons, parrots, chickens

This mite, whose size does not exceed 0.5 mm, cannot be detected in chickens with the naked eye. It parasitizes in the surface layer of the epidermis, inhabiting only bare areas of the host’s body. Knemidocoptes can be found on the paws. There may be several thousand mites on each leg. Rarely do they settle on the beak. These tiny creatures make many moves on the feet of birds. They primarily affect individuals with weakened immune systems.

Like the pigeon bug, Knemidocoptes can be carried into the chicken coop by pigeons. Sometimes it can be found in a private house or apartment. The main danger of these mites is that for quite a long time they do not detect their presence on the chicken’s body. At the initial stage of development of knemidocoptosis, its pathogens actively reproduce, causing serious harm to the weakened chicken body. The food sources for parasites are lymphatic fluid and exfoliated particles of the epidermis.

The first signs of the disease can be detected no earlier than after 2–3 months. The presence of scabies ectoparasites is indicated by symptoms such as:

• Convex formations on the legs of chickens. In the course of their life, representatives of this type of arachnid secrete harmful substances that lead to inflammation and the formation of ugly growths on the victim’s legs. When they are opened, you can find many passages made by parasites. You can see what the affected paw looks like in the photo.
• Bleeding, inflamed wounds on the legs. Tick ​​bites cause severe itching in birds, which causes self-pecking.
• Severe exhaustion due to refusal to eat due to constant itching.
• Coarsening of the skin and raised scales on the limbs. Chicken feet covered with ugly bumps with hardened skin are called calcareous.
• Anemia. Anemia develops due to significant blood loss when pecking at itchy skin.
• Loss of feeling in fingers or toes. This symptom is characteristic of advanced forms of knemidocoptosis. Ignoring this disease can lead to the death of chicken coop inhabitants. Often, the lack of treatment causes necrosis of the tissues of the limbs and, as a consequence, the death of the infected bird.

Red chicken mites

The red chicken mite, which is the most common type of these representatives of arachnids, unlike other fellows that parasitize birds, can be detected with the naked eye. The length of the oval body of the parasite reaches 0.75 mm. In a hungry state, it has a yellowish color, and when full, it increases in size several times, acquiring a burgundy hue.

Adults and larvae of red mites feed on the blood of the host. Typically, ectoparasites hunt at night. They parasitize on the bird's neck, near the anus and under the wings. The full development cycle of these representatives of gamasaceae takes from 6 to 12 days. These ectoparasites are extremely tenacious. Without food they can live for 1 year. While in the larval stage, they can withstand low temperatures. With the arrival of cold weather, adults climb into the cracks.

Chickens infected with this mite:

• They lay few eggs. Sometimes this process stops completely.
• They eat poorly. Sick young animals hardly gain weight and may ultimately die.
• They shake their heads. This symptom does not appear in all cases of infection with these chicken bloodsuckers. This behavior indicates damage to the larynx, ear canal or trachea by ectoparasites. At the same time, the bird may cough and wheeze.
• Change behavior. Chicken coop occupants may be afraid to enter it. They become restless.
• They peck themselves until bleeding wounds form. Parasite bites cause unbearable itching in chickens. They try to calm it down by self-pecking or taking sand baths.
• They refuse to nest in their usual places.

Mites on laying hens photo

Biology of the parasite and its varieties. Ticks are external parasites whose diet includes blood, elements and secretions from the host’s skin.

Birds are affected by several types of mites. Knowledge of their characteristics allows you to choose the right strategy for solving the problem, including effective drugs and folk remedies.

Microscopic mites in laying hens and broilers

A microscope is required to visualize such a parasite. These are potential initiators of inflammatory processes. The group of parasites under consideration includes:

• Cytodites;
• Knemidocoptes;
• epidermoptes.

The first parasite is pulmonary, the last two are external.

Microscopic mites feed on epidermal particles and skin secretions. The fact that a bird has them is determined by bald spots (areas of skin without feathers). And also low live weight.

Microscopic mites increase the risk of:

• Cytoditosis. This is the result of the vital activity of parasites that inhabit the respiratory system.
• Knemidocoptosis. This pathology is provoked by mites located deep in the skin. Symptoms: affected areas of the body and limbs, nodular inflammation.
• Epidermoptosis. The mites that cause this disease choose feather follicles as their home. The disease is accompanied by severe inflammation of the dermis and is diagnosed by bald areas.

The long-term negative effect of parasites on the body is the cause of the bird’s stressed state. As you know, any stress factor negatively correlates with productivity.

If you don’t help the chickens in time, the mites “eat them” and the young animals die.

Medium size pliers

Externally, such parasites are similar to fleas and are visible without any special optics. Representatives of medium-sized parasites:

• Red;
• Persian;
• ixodid.

The first type of parasites are more common; the second type does not care which bird it infects; the third type hosts both animals and humans.

Important: medium-sized ticks use poultry as a food source. After saturation, they usually return to the surfaces of the structural elements of the poultry house and equipment.

Features of the red tick. This is a parasite with an elongated red body and numerous hairs. Color varies from light yellow to dark red. You probably guessed that parasites turn red because they are saturated with blood.

Let's watch the video. Horrible infestation of red mites! These structures just need to be burned...

The oviposition of females consists of two dozen eggs. Reproduction begins in May and ends in October. Parasites are most active in the summer, withstand a 6-month hunger strike and therefore cold seasons are not fatal for them.

Factors contributing to the appearance of the parasite: high humidity (dampness), dirt, excessively dense poultry.

Characteristics of the Persian tick. This is a headache for poultry farmers living in the southern regions of the country. It parasitizes the skin and causes mass mortality. Is a carrier of pathogens:

• Tuberculosis;
• pasteurellosis;
• salmonellosis.

The Persian tick sometimes chooses mammals as hosts; due to its fear of sunlight, it feeds at night.

A few words about the Persian tick. It does not harm the health of birds and for this reason eliminates the need for any therapeutic measures. The parasite sticks to areas with bushy crops and does not disdain animals.

Descriptions of types of mites on birds

This group includes ixodid, red and Persian ticks. Due to their size, they are easy to spot upon inspection. Most often they are found in areas near the head of the bed. They feed on the blood of birds and attack at night. During the day she is not active because she is afraid of daylight.

They are very common in agricultural production and chicken coops. Regarding industrial production, poultry is strictly monitored and preventive measures are taken. This parasite causes a decrease in egg production, which means big financial losses.

Red

They get on birds from straw, bedding, and cages. The parasite looks like this: it has an oval body, 3 pairs of legs, orange color, but when it drinks blood it acquires a rich red color. The entire body is covered with villi. At night they attack the victim. The most common sites of bites are the back of the head and scallops. These insects are quite difficult to get rid of. The fact is that they can do without food for six months. Therefore, a cage in which there are parasites, or, for example, straw that will be placed in the cage, is a source of infection.

Females can lay about 20 eggs at a time. Insects are not afraid of severe frosts; they do not die, but go into “hibernation,” a state of rest. Places with high humidity are suitable for their habitat and reproduction.

Persian

It lives in warmer regions. Regarding poultry, they attack it very rarely. But industrial areas are not bypassed. This species is one of the most dangerous, since its bite leads to infection with dangerous diseases. Chickens can get sick from salmonellosis, tuberculosis, and pasteurellosis.

The infection process occurs as follows. The parasite bites and drinks blood, then the food is digested and it regurgitates some of it back. Along with this food, toxins and pathogenic bacteria enter the bird’s blood, which leads to infection. If the disease is not detected in time and treatment is not started, it will lead to death. In addition, salmonella is dangerous to humans. Sources of infection are poultry and eggs. Leads to a very serious infectious disease.

Ixodes

This species does not pose any danger to chickens. They pose a great danger to people because they carry diseases such as Lyme Borelliosis and encephalitis. I attack people and animals. They hunt prey in nature, the life cycle is about a year. They do not attack in groups. They live in grass and bushes, and from there they look for prey; when they have eaten, they disappear and crawl back. It is very difficult to diagnose the disease, which is the cause of severe forms.

Varieties

Chickens are parasitized by various mites. Let's look at them.

Large

Large ticks can be easily seen; visually and in size they are similar to fleas. Varieties:

1. Ixodidae - affects not only humans, but also animals.
2. Persian - Argasaceae, a purely avian parasite.
3. Reds attack chickens only for food, the rest of the time they simply live and breed in the poultry house.

The red tick is considered the most dangerous - it carries viruses, bacteria, spreads typhoid, cholera, spirochitosis, and borreliosis.

The red chicken mite is most often found in chicken coops. The parasite has a brown body 0.6-0.7 mm in length; after filling with blood it turns purple. The female lays up to 20 eggs per day. The main activity is from early May to mid-autumn. The life cycle of a tick lasts 6-13 days. The parasite loves humidity and warmth. Find out about the care and raising of Phoenix quails in this material.

Microscopic

The first group of parasites are microscopic. You can't just see them. Kinds:

1. Knemidocoptes - cause the appearance of body and leg scabies.
2. Epidermoptes is a microorganism that causes skin-beeting scabies pathology.
3. Cytodites is a pulmonary or tracheal micromite that feeds on epidermal secretions and particles of cellular structures.

Red chicken mites

The red chicken mite, which got its name because of the color of its small body, belongs to the class of blood-sucking parasites. It is a carrier of various viruses, bacteria, and spreads the causative agent of cholera, typhoid, borreliosis, spirochitosis.

The body length of parasites does not exceed 0.6–0.7 mm. The color of the body is dark brown, brownish-red. After the blood tick drinks blood, the body turns purple. The female is capable of laying 15–20 eggs per day. The maximum period of activity for red chicken mites is from May to mid-October. Parasites have a complex life cycle, which includes several larval stages and depends on environmental conditions. Its duration is 6–13 days.

Red chicken mite

The blood-sucking parasite prefers a warm, humid microclimate. Lives in damp, damp, poorly ventilated areas. The maximum accumulation of chicken mites can be seen in the litter. At the same time, detecting parasites is not so difficult. Some chicken mites are constantly on the surface of the body of an infested bird, others live in chicken coops, poultry houses, hiding in the litter, under perches, in cracks on walls, floors, and at nightfall they leave their shelter in search of a new victim.

Advice! If the chickens are reluctant to enter the chicken coop, set up new nesting places, and experience severe itching, these are clear signs that the bird is infected with red mites.

The red chicken mite feeds on blood, biting and damaging the skin. The bird experiences discomfort, itching, and shows anxiety. The condition of the feathers greatly deteriorates, the immune system weakens, and anemia develops, which can cause the death of infested birds.

Dangerous pests enter farms with newly arrived chickens. Parasites can spread through household items and equipment. Most often, red ticks live in rooms and farmsteads with unsatisfactory sanitary conditions.

Infection is facilitated by high humidity in poultry houses, the absence of sand baths for chickens, and a high density of birds in a limited space. It is worth noting that red chicken mites are dangerous to humans. They cause severe itching and allergies.

When day-old chicks are placed in poultry houses with mites, a high mortality rate is observed. The chicks die from exhaustion and anemia within 5–7 days.

Severe infestation of chicken with chicken mites

Reason for appearance

No matter how much you would like to create the safest possible living conditions for your birds, this will not always work. Insects enter the poultry house for several reasons:

• penetration of rodents and wild birds into the chicken coop;
• replacement of new livestock already infected with ticks;
• due to poor ventilation in the room;
• increased humidity in the chicken coop, stagnant water;
• if the number of chickens is too large for the chicken coop;
• in the absence of a sand bath for birds;
• a person can carry ticks on clothes or shoes from the street.

To prevent disease in chickens, it is recommended to regularly inspect small crevices, livestock, and bedding in the poultry house. They most often hide there. Checks are done in the evening. To do this, point a flashlight with a bright light at the area being tested. If pests are present, they will begin to scatter in different directions. Then they begin to carry out chemical and sanitary treatments of the room. At this time, it is better to evict the chickens from the chicken coop.

Signs of chicken infection

You can tell that a bird is infected with mites based on several signs. Parasites can be seen in different places in the poultry house - on the walls, under perches, in cracks in the floor.

If the bird has become inactive, experiences severe itching, egg production has decreased, young animals are not gaining weight well, the condition of the plumage has worsened, or bald spots have appeared on the body, it is most likely that the chickens are infected with mites.

Pay attention to the behavior of your feathered charges. If hens begin to clean their feathers more often, pluck feathers under their wings, in the cloaca area, and constantly take “sand” baths, this may also indicate an infection with feather mites and scabies mites.

Other symptoms of mites in chickens:

• weakness, apathy;
• wounds, scratches, sores on the body;
• dry frequent cough, shortness of breath;
• pallor of mucous membranes, comb, earrings;
• lack of egg production in laying hens;
• weight loss;
• refusal to eat, increased thirst.

Upon closer examination, you can see small red or black spots, small grains, droplets of blood on the feathers, body of birds or on the walls of chicken coops and perches.

You can detect a tick by placing material from a nest, perch, or chicken coop on a white sheet of paper and examining it in bright light. It is best to collect material in the evening, at night.

How to detect a tick

Ticks enter chicken coops either with infected chickens, or they are brought there by wild birds, such as pigeons or swallows.

Groups of chickens infected with mites show a number of characteristic symptoms, including anemia, decreased activity, and loss of appetite. Chickens, as a rule, stand with their combs down, indifferent to everything that happens nearby, when trying to catch them, they hardly try to run away. Often the bird pecks out its down and feathers in the most severe itching areas on its body.

Upon closer examination, it is extremely rare to find a tick on a bird's body, since ticks are predominantly nocturnal when chickens sleep on their perches. However, in some cases, individual mites can be found under the wings, which will resemble dark grains of sand embedded in the skin. It is important to remember that ticks are small in size, which makes it difficult to differentiate them from a distance. By scraping such grains of sand onto a light sheet of paper, you can examine individual mites under a magnifying glass.

Methods for controlling chicken mites

If ticks are found on chickens, immediate measures must be taken to get rid of them. It is necessary to combat mites in chickens in a comprehensive manner.

Preparations for disinfecting chicken coops

On a note!

It is recommended to carefully inspect each chicken. Particular attention should be paid to the areas under the wings and on the neck. It is necessary to treat the bite areas using disinfectants, and then lubricate them with oil.

Be sure to treat the chicken coop for ticks. The chickens are temporarily relocated. After this, they begin to clean the chicken coop from dirt. It is advisable to do heat treatment in the premises. You can pour boiling water over the floor and walls. But the best way is to use a blowtorch or fire. They completely burn the room, it is better to throw out the old perches and replace them with new perches and crossbars. Especially if they are made of wood, since even after treatment, chicken mites may remain in the cracks. It is advisable to periodically treat the walls with diesel fuel and lubricate them with lime.

The industry produces many products that effectively help get rid of fleas and ticks. They are available for free sale. To treat all surfaces in the chicken coop, it is recommended to purchase the following chemicals:

• 1% Karbofos. Price 18-60 rubles, depending on packaging.
• 2% Chlorophos. Sold in powder form. The cost of 1 bucket (800 g) is about 900 rubles.
• 0.5% Cyodrine.
• 0.5% Neocidol.

The current price for the drugs Tsiodrin and Niocidol can be found by telephone at a veterinary pharmacy or by leaving a request on a specialized website.

To combat chicken mites, veterinarians advise using special products that are sprayed on birds:

1. Delcid. A solution is prepared from it. The package contains 5 ampoules. The average price ranges from 128 to 151 rubles.
2. Butox 50. Concentrated preparation used to prepare a solution. It goes on sale in a TV package containing 5 ampoules of 1 ml each. The cost is about 85 rubles.
3. Dust. It is used to process bird feathers. Price from 33 rub. (100 g) up to 748 rub. (1 kg)
4. Milben. Ready product. Sold in spray form. The cost of 1 bottle (100 ml) is 450-560 rubles.

Means for treating chickens against ticks

Important!

Since any of the proposed drugs is poisonous, you should strictly follow the instructions attached to each drug.

Veterinary clinics offer vaccinations for birds. To do this, each of them needs to be given an injection (Ivermek).

Such control measures are suitable if the owners do not have many birds. With a large head, it is impossible to process every chicken, so they use the spraying method. To do this, prepare an aqueous solution using effective means. The liquid is poured into a spray bottle and gently sprayed onto the birds and the room itself.

Review

I used Butox. I diluted the drug according to the instructions and treated poultry and the premises with it. Repeated treatment was carried out after 2 weeks. I saved my chickens and they are now healthy.

Valentina, Perm

Mites that parasitize chickens

Mites can infest chickens under the skin, on the skin and in the feathers. The main subcutaneous mite is a parasite that causes knemidocoptic mange. The skin can be parasitized by mites such as the red chicken mite, ixodid mite, and northern bird mite. Chicken feathers can contain 3-5 species of so-called mites.

Knemidocoptosis

The scabies mite primarily affects the legs of chickens, crawling under the scales on the paws. The skin on the paws becomes rough and covered with bumps, taking on the appearance of a so-called calcareous paw.

The disease is caused by a microscopic subcutaneous mite Kmemidokoptes mutans, which climbs under the scales and bores labyrinths of passages there. The tick feeds on lymphatic fluid, skin flakes and inflammatory exudate released as a result of its activity. Up to 20 thousand individuals of this type of mite can live on one chicken paw.

In the photo under the letter “a” is a male tick, “b” and “c” are a female from the abdomen and from the back.

Methods of transmitting ticks from a sick bird to a healthy one

The mite is transmitted through direct contact with a sick bird, through care items and through a “folk remedy for parasites” - ash and dust baths, since this parasite is able to remain viable in fallen skin flakes. The mite loves dirty chicken coops. On the floor in a litter, it can remain viable for up to 2 weeks, and in winter for up to several months. Moreover, females survive even in 10-degree frost. The mite prefers chickens with weakened immune systems. The tick is viviparous; the female produces 6–8 larvae during its life cycle. Outbreaks of activity of this tick occur in spring and autumn.

Symptoms of the disease

The incubation period is 5–6 months, so owners usually miss mite infection in chickens. Pronounced signs become noticeable only in young chickens aged 5–7 months. Due to the fact that the tick on the legs gnaws passages in the epidermis, the skin of the paws becomes rough, and the scales lag behind the paw. Feeling itching and pain, chickens begin to peck at their paws. Bumps form on the paws. Secondary infection occurs on open wounds. In advanced cases, the fingers die off. Fortunately, Knemidocoptes mutans does not rise above the shins. But it is too early to rejoice at this, because another species of the same subfamily - Knemidocoptes laevis - prefers to live in the skin at the base of the feathers, causing symptoms similar to scabies.

Treatment of knemidocoptosis

Knemidocoptic mange is treated in the same way as any other subcutaneous mite. For treatment, acaricidal drugs are used according to the instructions included with the package. Aversectin ointment works well against subcutaneous mites.

From folk remedies, you can use any oily liquid. The essence of this treatment is to block the tick's access to oxygen. Fans of decorative birds often use regular Vaseline. But Vaseline needs to be applied to the paws every day. This is possible for a parrot, but not for the owner of even a couple of dozen chickens. Therefore, it is more profitable and faster for chicken farmers to use specialized preparations that do not require daily use.

How to get rid of Knemidocoptes mutans mites on chicken feet

To prevent further spread of the mite, bathing baths are removed, their contents are heated over fire if possible, and the baths themselves are treated with acaricidal agents. The chicken coop is cleaned and washed as much as possible, after which the sulfur bomb is burned in it. All other products will not be able to penetrate all the cracks where ticks may be hiding. Simultaneously with disinsection, when using a sulfur bomb, disinfection also occurs. The destruction of mold fungi and pathogenic microorganisms is only beneficial for chickens.

Feather mite (syringophilosis)

They are fundamentally different from the subfamily Knemidocoptinae, living in the skin. Feather mites live directly in the feather stubs, which is why they have the second name “feather mites.” There are so many types of feather mites that they already have a narrow specialization in their place of residence. Some live only in flight feathers of the first order, others in flight feathers of the second order, and so on. Feather mites in chickens are not exclusively a chicken parasite. It also affects guinea fowl, pigeons, parrots, turkeys, ducks and some other birds, causing syringophilosis.

Typically, feather mites only bother owners of ornamental birds, since with relatively small quantities of the mite, it does not cause much inconvenience to the chickens, and checking the feathers of all chickens is too troublesome. The horned mite often settles on the tail feathers. These ticks live in colonies of several hundred individuals at a time. Since its size is microscopic, its presence can only be detected by indirect signs.

The photo shows a Syringophilus bipectinatus tick under a microscope. The mite is dark gray in color with an elongated body. The length of the parasite is up to 1 mm. The mouthparts are gnawing type.

Symptoms of syringophilosis

Mite infection occurs through contact with a sick bird and contaminated feed. The mite can also be transmitted when infected feathers fall onto the floor of the chicken coop. The incubation period of the disease is 3 months. Mites infest feathers, entering through a channel at the base of the feather, and destroy the arch and papilla, causing inflammation of the surrounding tissue. The disease manifests itself in young chickens 5–7 months of age. Feathers begin to break off and fall out.

Possible untimely molting and self-pecking. The fatness and egg production of chickens decreases.

Important! Ticks disperse during seasonal molting, emerging from fallen feathers and attacking birds.

How to determine if feather mites are infested with feather mites

An accurate diagnosis can only be made after examination under a microscope, but it is possible to confirm or refute with a high degree of accuracy the suspicion that a mite has appeared in the feathers. To do this, a suspicious feather with a dark inside edge is pulled out of the chicken and a longitudinal section is made from the edge. In a healthy eye there is nothing but air and chitinous partitions. If there is something inside the edge, the contents are carefully cleaned onto a piece of paper and examined. Can be done under a magnifying glass.

A viscous, sticky brown substance is blood. It has nothing to do with the ticks, but we need to look for the reasons for the appearance of blood in the ticks. The contents of the hole with the mite are dry, dusty, yellow-brown in color. The color of the contents of the bed is given by mite excrement. If there is dry content in the chicken, the chickens are treated with acaricidal preparations.

How to remove mites from feathers

Previously, chicken breeders were of little concern about the issue of combating the mite, since in broilers the mite did not even have time to appear, and in laying hens it did not reach a critical mass. But if previously the lifespan of a laying hen was a little more than a year, now there are many expensive breeds of chickens whose owners are not ready to send breeding stock to soup after just a year. Therefore, the question of what to do to get rid of the tick mite becomes relevant for chicken farmers.

The tick mite responds well to the action of acaricidal drugs, but it is protected by the feather tick, into which the agent cannot penetrate.

A scientifically based treatment for syringophilosis in chickens has not been developed, since few people were interested in this mite on an industrial scale. Owners of ornamental birds have been closely involved in the issue of getting rid of mites, having at random found ways to combat the mite.

Important! Methods for removing ticks are “piecemeal”, that is, each chicken must be treated individually.

They fight the mite with the help of preparations that are absorbed into the skin or by adding ivermectin to the water. They say that the next time they molt, the feathers grow back clean. Dosage for parrots: 1 ml of ivermectin per 100 ml of water in the drinking bowl. But this is a dose for a parrot. For chicken, you may have to adjust your dosage.

In the video, a parrot is being treated, but the principle is the same: treat the feathers and skin at the base of the feathers with an acaricidal preparation.

If we are already fighting the chicken mite, then it is imperative to keep the chicken coop clean. A fallen feather must be removed and burned, as it can be a breeding ground for ticks.

Red chicken mite

The most famous type of mite for chicken breeders and perhaps the easiest to control. This is a nocturnal gamas tick. Symptoms of its appearance can be: chickens’ reluctance to spend the night in the chicken coop (chickens also behave in the presence of bedbugs), scratching, self-pecking and, most importantly, strange small tubercles in the head area.

In the photo, arrows indicate attached mites.

Chicken mites can literally cover your chicken.

But the main thing is that they are outside and you can quickly rid chickens of ticks.

In small numbers, red mites do not cause much problems for chickens, but these mites have a habit of reproducing at a very high rate, quickly infecting an entire chicken coop. In large quantities, in addition to transmitting diseases, mites cause exhaustion, decreased productivity in laying hens, and anemia. When attacking chickens, the mites weaken them so much that the chickens fall on their feet and eventually die. Chicken mites mate and reproduce outside the host in secluded crevices, which can always be found in any poultry house.

Comment! Northern bird mites, in fact, replace red chicken mites in the northern regions - inhabitants of the south.

Ixodid ticks

If I may say so, these are loners. Hanging of ixodid ticks on chickens in clusters, like chicken ticks, is possible only when the area is very heavily infested. However, after the collapse of the Union, insecticidal treatment of forests and meadows also ceased, so today ixodid ticks are experiencing an outbreak in numbers.

The photo shows an attached ixodid tick. The advantage of these ticks is that they are large and easily visible even to people with poor eyesight. In extreme cases, ixodid ticks can be found by touch. For these ticks, there is no particular difference when to attack the host. Having sucked, they fall off and lay eggs, infecting the chicken coop and the run.

Important! It is impossible to get rid of this parasite by tearing it off by force. The tick is removed using oily substances that block air access to the ticks' spiracles.

Methods for controlling chicken and ixodid ticks are similar.

How to deal with mites in chickens

To rid chickens of chicken and ixodid mites, birds are treated with preparations intended for this purpose. For example, Butox solution. To combat ectoparasites, the industry is constantly developing new substances, removing old ones from production. Therefore, in order to find out what can be used to properly and safely treat chickens today, this question will have to be asked at a veterinary pharmacy or veterinary service.

Acaricidal drugs are safe for humans, but they are mainly developed for pets that are not eaten.

Chicken coops are treated with the same solutions. But this does not provide a 100% guarantee that all mites will be destroyed, since if the solution does not get into the cracks, the mites will most likely survive. These drugs are good for treating chicken pastures. In the poultry house it is better to use sulfur bombs.

Attention! Sulfur smoke is dangerous for all living things, including humans, so there should be no chickens in the chicken coop during disinfestation.

How to get rid of chicken mites

You can get rid of parasites using various medications and folk remedies.

Chemicals

Many chicken owners use eco-fleece . It is recommended to treat the room with this drug at least twice a month. Ecofleece is also suitable for processing chickens themselves; in addition to it, Pyrethrum and Sevin . They are harmless to birds. They need to be re-treated after 1.5 weeks.

As for chemicals for sanitizing poultry rooms, other preparations can be used:

• Ectomin.

• Extrazol-M.

• Decis.

• Cyperil.

Repeated treatment is carried out after 7-8 days. You should not use chemicals thoughtlessly; you must first read the instructions and make sure that the product is suitable for your case. During the treatment period, all living creatures are removed to another place; after the work has been carried out, the room must be ventilated for 24 hours .

Folk remedies

• The greatest effect is brought by heat treatment of the room : several buckets of water are brought to a boil, after which the entire place where the chickens stay - walls, floor and ceiling - is treated with boiling water. All things that are available in the place where the chickens are kept, bedding, straw and even perches, if they are made of wood, are disposed of.
• Another way to treat poultry living rooms is flame treatment . This method can be dangerous, but is one of the most effective.
• There is another no less effective method of struggle, this is preparing a mixture of ash and sand . This mixture is scattered in poultry areas. Chickens bathe in this mixture, thereby getting rid of parasites. But you will have to change the sand and ash every 2 weeks. If the mixture gets wet, it must be replaced immediately.

Bathing chickens in an ash-sand mixture

• You can treat the walls of the chicken coop with a blowtorch. In large premises and chicken farms, quartz lamps are used for disinfection.
• A less effective way to combat ticks, but still used, is to hang plants in the chicken coop that can repel parasites . These plants include: peppermint, garlic, leeks and celery.

Attention! Substances containing chlorinated hydrocarbons are not used for treating premises, since this element can accumulate in chicken meat and eggs.

Treatment

Birch tar is used to treat chicken acariform mites on the legs of poultry. It is heated to a temperature of 40 degrees, poured into a deep bath and the chicken is placed in the solution up to the hock joint. You can simply treat the parasite-affected surface of the leg with tar, using a soft brush, at intervals of 6–7 days.

Birch tar kills mites on chicken legs

Advice! If the mite lives on the legs of chickens, use a solution of Trichlorometaphos or a mixture of birch tar and kerosene in a 1:1 ratio.

If chickens are infected with scabies mites that live on their legs, the parasites can be removed using acaricidal-insecticidal agents of complex action in drops, solutions, and aerosols. They are simply rubbed into the affected skin several times at intervals of 2-3 days.

Consequences of a tick bite

If the egg production of laying hens has decreased, the bird is constantly itching (behaving aggressively or too active), and the young animals look bad, the birds should be examined and checked in the chicken coop and the infected birds should be treated. Parts of the body that are affected by insect bites:

• wings;
• skin under the tail;
• nostrils;
• head.

In some cases, you can follow the movement of the tick along the chicken’s body (the places where the thin skin is most vulnerable), but you should not wait for such clues. The danger of a tick invasion is that they attack the ears, larynx and trachea of ​​broilers, which is why in birds the first symptoms do not appear immediately, and noticeable signs develop against the background of secondary diseases. In sick birds, head tremors begin, coughing attacks appear, and sounds are heard.

In order to get rid of ticks on chickens, farmers apply oil to those parts of the birds' body where unhealed wounds and legs are visible. After a couple of days the tick dies. The wounds are disinfected and coated with cream, which promotes rapid healing. The poultry house must be cleaned and disinfected, and the chickens, after suffering from illness and treatment, must be moved to a dry, ventilated room. As a result, the dangerous red chicken mite will be completely destroyed.

There are many methods that make fighting ticks easy and effective. Effective ways to combat ticks are:

• Treatment of a chicken flock begins with treating the skin of the birds with special medicinal agents. The procedure is carried out twice a week at weekly intervals. Sevin powder is the best remedy for chicken feather mites. Feathers are sprinkled with a powder preparation, and birds and their habitat are sprayed with disinfectant sprays.
• Sand and ash are the best natural remedies to completely get rid of pests. The 2 ingredients are mixed, and then the mixture is poured into a glass container. The container with the product is placed in the yard. Chickens in close proximity to the product will independently clear themselves of ticks. Soon you won't have to worry about the problem of mites.
• Feather mites do not tolerate too high temperatures, so it would be a good idea to treat the floor and walls of the chicken coop with boiling water, a flame (if the house is not wooden) or a blowtorch. Quartz lamps do an excellent job of killing mites; this method is used on large poultry farms. At home, it is also suitable for insect control.
• Plants will help remove such aliens. Mint, parsley, onion, celery and garlic are laid out in the chicken coop (along the entire perimeter). Specific odors will quickly drive pests away from the poultry house.

Treatment with sprays and aerosols should not be used without consultation with specialists. The veterinarian will accurately prescribe medication and tell you in detail how to fight chicken mites at home without harming the birds.

Bird ticks are dangerous. Pests carry serious diseases: plague, borreliosis and cholera. If appropriate treatment and prevention measures are not taken, the birds will die and harm humans.

Methods of getting rid of parasites

If your suspicions are confirmed and a dangerous parasite is found in your chicken coop, you should take measures to get rid of it immediately. First, you need to process the room; for this, all equipment is removed from the room (it will also need to be processed), the chicken coop is thoroughly cleaned of droppings and dirt. The walls, corners and ceiling of the poultry house are treated with boiling water. It is very good if you have the opportunity to carry out the treatment with a blowtorch or gas lamp - under the influence of high temperatures, the mites and their larvae should die. Perches and nests also need to be treated, and feeders and drinking bowls should be washed thoroughly.

Next you need to process the birds themselves. The powdered drug Pyrethrum is used for treatment; it is recognized as harmless to humans and chickens. To combat ticks, Sevin powder (it is better to use a 7% preparation) or Ecofleece aerosol is also used. Powdered preparations should be thoroughly sprinkled on the bird's feathers and legs, and sprayed thoroughly with aerosols. Both the chicken coop and the poultry should be treated twice, with an interval of 10-15 days.

We recommend watching a video by Roman Belov, which shows how much pleasure chickens take to bathe in ash!

Do not forget that your birds should always have a container with sand and ash on their walk. Chickens are always very willing to bathe in such a mixture and are thus cured of parasites. Just make sure this mixture is dry.

Treating the walls of the chicken coop with diesel fuel is also a good way to prevent and combat ticks. This should be done in the summer, as it is most favorable for the development of a colony of mites in your poultry house. It is also believed that mites are afraid of certain strong odors, so hanging bunches of mint, celery, parsley, garlic or onions in the house can provide additional protection!

Chicken coop treatment

Feather mites in chickens and other types of ectoparasites can live for a long time without a host. They hide in the litter, in the cracks between the boards, in the most secluded corners of the poultry house. Treatment of chickens will not be effective if the chicken coop is not treated.

If you find mites in the poultry house, you must completely vacate the premises, remove all equipment, and burn the litter. After thorough cleaning, all walls and floors should be doused with steam, and metal structures should be heated with a blowtorch. Drinkers and feeders are washed and treated with insectoacaricidal solutions, such as:

• Vetamectin;
• Brovermectin;
• Ectosan;
• Neocidol.

Neocidol

Sulfur bomb helps get rid of all types of ectoparasites indoors; in addition, it destroys viruses, bacteria and fungi. The treatment is carried out in the absence of birds. After 7–10 days, the procedure is repeated.

General recommendations

If mites are detected on chickens, the birds are treated with medical treatment as indicated in the description of the disease. After this, if necessary, decontamination of the poultry house is carried out - the destruction of pests in the room.

The bird is removed from the chicken coop, all bedding is removed, roosts and nests are cleaned, and trash is taken out. After this, all surfaces of the room, feeders, drinking bowls, and equipment are treated with acaricidal solutions:

• cyodrine 0.5%;
• dicresol 0.25%;
• dibromine 0.3%;
• karbofos or trichlorometaphos 0.5-1%;
• DDVF 0.25–0.5%;
• neocidol 0.25-0.5%;
• pedix 0.25-0.5%;
• chlorophos 1-2%.

To destroy the red chicken or Persian mite, the treatment must be repeated 3-4 times with an interval of 3-5 days.

Removing the infection

Mites can enter the poultry house with a new batch of birds or traditionally multiply due to poor stock management. To the question of how to get rid of infection, there is only one answer - comprehensive measures:

• cleaning the poultry house;
• carrying out preventive measures to eliminate ticks from cracks and walls;
• treatment of birds.

Cleaning the poultry house

The first stage of work to get rid of mites should be a general cleaning of the poultry house. It must be completely cleaned of any remaining water and feed, bird droppings, and the dirty litter must be removed and burned.

It is desirable that the floor of the poultry house be without cracks, dense and monolithic. One of the most effective methods is to burn out parasites with a blowtorch, which is used to process all the cracks and planes in the chicken coop. If this is not possible due to the high risk of fire, you can treat the cracks with boiling water.

Treatment must be carried out at least twice with an interval of 10-12 days - this is due to the development cycle of the tick larvae. If the red or Persian tick is being destroyed, treatment should be carried out once every 3 days.

It is possible to treat all surfaces with chemical compounds:

1. Chlorophos 2%;
2. Karbofos 1%;
3. Cyodrine 0.5%;
4. Neocidol 0.5%.

Treatment

For leg scabies, it helps to get rid of mites:

• Karbofos 1% emulsion;
• a mixture of equal parts of birch tar and kerosene;

The mixture is applied to the legs or the chicken's legs are dipped into the liquid.

For feather mites, bathe the bird in:

• aqueous solution of chlorophos 0.5%;
• odilene.

For skin beetle, the affected areas are lubricated:

• tar ointment;
• a mixture of alcohol and tar in equal parts.

The bird can be completely sprayed with Karbofos.

For red chicken and argas mites, we fight the lesion with a 7% dust solution.

Traditional methods

Traditional methods of treatment include:

• generously lubricate the affected areas of the bird’s body with sunflower oil (or the entire body).
• treating all wooden parts of the poultry house with hot grease, which must be applied with a brush to the parts. Before this, the poultry house must be thoroughly cleaned and all cracks must be scalded with boiling water.
• treatment of the room with a quartz lamp.

For the purpose of prevention, the walls of the poultry house are carefully smoothed to eliminate cracks and whitewashed with lime with the addition of carbolic acid.

You can fight infection by using Pyrethrum chamomile powder, which is sprinkled on chicken feathers, or Ecofleece aerosol.

To get rid of mites, it is necessary to eliminate cracks in the floor and walls as completely as possible, regularly whitewash, keep the premises clean, install wide containers with dry sand and ash for “bathing” chickens, and regularly inspect the birds.

Preventing tick infestations

Ectoparasites are rarely found in poultry houses where farmers regularly clean them. It is important to keep the room clean and well ventilated during the spring and summer. Inside you need to install a bath with sand and wood ash. Chickens, wallowing in it, independently treat their feathers and skin, which serves to prevent infection by mites.

It is important to regularly change litter and disinfect the poultry house. Walls and ceilings are usually treated with lime; it kills not only ticks, but also various infections. Equipment is washed weekly and scalded with boiling water. If an infected individual is discovered, it is necessary to separate it from its neighbors. Only after treatment is completed can the chicken return to its relatives.

Attention! Laying hens and chicks new to the farm are quarantined to avoid infection of the livestock.

Feather mites and other types of skin parasites are very dangerous. They contribute to the spread of infections that can kill livestock. Having discovered the first signs of infection in one or more laying hens, do not hesitate. Sick individuals are immediately removed and treated; the rest should be examined by a veterinarian. The chicken coop and equipment are treated with insectoacaricidal solutions.

Danger to humans

When pigeons nest near human habitations, ticks can attack people. Dermanyssus gallinae is just one of six species of bird mites that can bite humans. In the absence of a true host, these parasites will actively attack people, usually biting them on the lower part of the body. Poultry farmers who raise chickens are at increased risk.

At the site of the bite, a very itchy spot appears in the form of a macula, papular, vesicular rash or irritation resembling urticaria. There are several scientific reports that chicken mites can infect humans with infectious diseases, but this theory has not received practical evidence.

Sources

• https://fermers.ru/veterinariya/pticy/kurinyy-kleshch
• https://VrediteliSOS.ru/nasekomye/kleshhi/kurinyj-kleshch.html
• https://DSad12.ru/sh-zhivotnye/kleshchi-u-kurej-kak-borotsya.html
• https://kursi-floristiki.ru/uhod/kurinyj-kleshch-foto.html
• https://klopkan.ru/kleshhi/vidy-kleshhej/kurinyj-kleshh/
• https://apest.ru/kleshhi/kleshhi-u-zhivotnyh/kurinyj-kleshch/
• https://hlopklop.com/zhiv/kurinye.html
• https://mdco.ru/moduli-pozharotusheniya/edyat-li-kury-kleshchei-effektivnye-metody-borby-s-perevym-kleshchom-u.html
• https://FermHelp.ru/chem-lechit-kleshha-u-kur/
• https://webferma.com/pticevodstvo/veterinariya/kuriniy-klesh.html

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