If you look after chickens, whether on a commercial scale or just for you and your family, you might have heard of poultry red mites. These tiny little creatures can cause real damage, so it’s important you’re in the know.
The good news is, if you find your birds are suffering as a result of these critters, help is at hand. Here at Pest Control Supermarket.com Ltd we offer a range of pest control products UK and may have the ideal solution for you.
What are they?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand exactly what these things are. Also known simply as red mites, they are a blood-sucking ectoparasite and they feed on chickens’ blood. They can lead to decreased egg production, anaemia and even death if they are left untreated, meaning they cannot simply be ignored.
Unfortunately, poultry mites are becoming more common in Europe, and this is causing real problems among UK poultry farmers and keepers. This is especially the case in summer, when their numbers increase more rapidly.
The signs
There’s no point in panicking about the threat posed by these mites. All you can do is watch out for the signs and, if the need arises, invest in some suitable pest killers. Indications that your birds may be suffering from an infestation include a loss of condition, restlessness at night, combs and wattles becoming paler, blood spots on eggs and grey ash-like deposits around the perch ends. This is the mites’ waste matter.
The mites themselves can be hard to detect because they are only around 0.7mm and they tend to hide in the cracks and crevices in chicken coops and hen houses. They only emerge to feed for a few hours each night.
Eye spy
When you’re looking for them, make sure you check first thing in the morning. They are easier to spot at this time because they are still full of blood from the night before, giving them a reddish colour that quickly fades to grey/white during the day.
If you are searching hen houses, try to go at night. Using a torch, swipe a sheet of plain paper between the cracks and crevices. This will allow you to pick up traces of blood. It’s also worth looking in perch sockets, as groups of mites can often be found there.
In addition, it’s a good idea to check under bird wings on a weekly basis to maintain control.
Action
If you discover evidence of the mites, it’s time to take action. Hen houses and birds should be cleaned and treated immediately. This can help to prevent the infestation becoming more widespread.
It’s well worth taking a look at the Poultry Keeper products we sell. This is the most popular brand in the UK and you can choose from red mite powder, poultry mite sprays and fumigation devices.
A comprehensive selection
By taking a look around our website, you’ll see that our selection of pest control products is impressive. As well as poultry mite killers, we sell mouse poison, bed bugs spray and much more.