Chicken Itches
Mites and lice are a natural part of every backyard, as they travel on birds, rodents and other animals, so when your chickens become infested, you need to know what you’re dealing with.
POULTRY LICE While there are many forms of poultry lice, the most common are the chicken body louse (Menacanthus stramineus) and the shaft louse (Manopan gallinae). • fast-moving, six-legged, flat-bodied insect with broad, round head; 2 to 3 millimeters long, straw-colored (light brown) • Female lays 50 to 300 tiny white eggs near base of feather shafts. • does not suck blood; feeds on dry skin scales, feathers, scabs; gives infested birds a moth-eaten look
• spends entire life cycle on host
• primary infestation seasons are fall and winter
• Dust or spray birds and their environment using commercial products, such as Malathion, Permethrin, Rabon or Sevin, carefully following the instructions on the label. Always consult your veterinarian before using any products.
CHICKEN MITE ALSO CALLED RED ROOST MITE , DERMANYSSUS GALLINAE
• slow-moving, eight-legged insect; 1 millimeter long (the size of coarsely ground pepper); gray to dark reddish brown • lays white or o-white eggs on flu feathers and along larger feather shafts • sucks blood only at night; hides in cracks and crevices in coop or poultry building during the day • primary infestation season is summer • Dust or spray birds and their environment using commercial products, such as Malathion, Permethrin, Rabon or Sevin, carefully following the instructions on the label. Always consult your veterinarian first.
NORTHERN FOWL MITE, ORNITHO
NYSSUS SYLVIARUM
• slow-moving, eight-legged insect; 1 millimeter long (the size of coarsely ground pepper); brown
• lays white or o-white eggs on flu feathers and along larger feather shafts located on host’s vent, tail, back, and neck
• sucks blood
• spends entire life cycle on host; feeds day or night
• primary infestation seasons are fall, winter, and spring
• Dust or spray birds and their environment using commercial products, such as Malathion, Permethrin, Rabon or Sevin, carefully following the instructions on the label. Always consult your veterinarian first.
SCALY LEG MITE, KNEMIDOKOPTES
MUTANS • slow-moving, eight-legged insect; 1 millimeter long; gray
• sucks blood. • burrows into and lives under the scales of the feet, causing lifting and separation from underlying skin. Results in swelling, tenderness, scabbing and deformity. Related joint problems may occur. • coating the entire leg shaft with petroleum jelly or vegetable, mineral or linseed oil every two days may help smooth and moisturize scales. • Dust or spray birds, coop and roosts with carbaryl products, such as Sevin, carefully following the instructions on the label. Always consult your veterinarian first. • Ivermectin pour-on (also called spot-on) is a systemic agent used to control both internal and external parasites.