How to treat feather mites in chickens? - briefly
Apply a topical acaricide such as permethrin or ivermectin according to label directions, and provide a dust‑bath containing diatomaceous earth to help remove mites. Thoroughly clean the coop, replace bedding, and treat all flock members simultaneously to prevent reinfestation.
How to treat feather mites in chickens? - in detail
Feather mites infest the plumage and skin of chickens, causing irritation, feather loss, and reduced productivity. Effective control requires accurate diagnosis, immediate treatment, and long‑term prevention.
First, confirm the presence of mites by inspecting the birds. Look for white or reddish specks moving on feathers, especially around the vent, under the wings, and on the neck. Scrape a few feathers over a white surface; live mites will appear as tiny, fast‑moving organisms. Affected chickens often exhibit restlessness, excessive preening, and thinning of feathers.
Treatment proceeds in three phases: immediate eradication, environmental decontamination, and ongoing management.
Immediate eradication
- Apply a topical acaricide approved for poultry, such as a pyrethrin‑based spray or a carbaryl solution, following the label dosage. Treat each bird thoroughly, ensuring coverage of the vent area, underwing, and tail feathers.
- For flocks where chemical use is restricted, use a diluted neem oil spray (1 % solution) applied twice daily for five days. Neem interferes with mite respiration and is safe when used at low concentrations.
- Administer a systemic medication, such as ivermectin, at 0.2 mg/kg body weight orally or via drinking water, repeating after 7 days to interrupt the mite life cycle.
Environmental decontamination
- Remove all manure, bedding, and debris from coops. Replace with fresh, dry litter.
- Disinfect the housing with a 1 % solution of quaternary ammonium compounds or a 5 % bleach solution, ensuring thorough coverage of perches, nesting boxes, and walls. Allow surfaces to dry completely before re‑introducing birds.
- Heat‑treat equipment that can withstand temperatures of 60 °C for at least 30 minutes; heat kills all life stages of the parasite.
Ongoing management
- Rotate litter weekly and keep the coop dry; moisture promotes mite survival.
- Implement a regular dust‑bathing area with fine sand or wood ash, which helps birds self‑clean and reduces mite loads.
- Conduct a preventive spray schedule: apply a low‑dose pyrethrin spray every 30 days during the breeding season, adjusting frequency based on infestation levels.
- Monitor flocks weekly; early detection prevents spread and reduces the need for repeated chemical interventions.
Record all treatments, dates, and observations to track efficacy. Adjust protocols if mites persist, considering resistance testing or alternative acaricides. Consistent application of these measures eliminates infestations and maintains flock health.