THE RED BIRD MITE

THE RED BIRD MITE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PARASITES FOUND IN A HENHOUSE. AT NIGHT THEY COME OUT OF THEIR HIDING PLACES, FIND A SUITABLE HOST AND FEAST ON ITS BLOOD. DURING THE DAY, HOWEVER, THE MITES HIDE IN THE CRACKS OR CREVICES OF THE STABLE. BUT OTHER DARKER PLACES BELONG TO THEIR FAVORITES TOO, BECAUSE HERE THE MITE FEELS SAFE AND PROTECTED.

WITH THEIR APPEARANCE THEY CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE. EVERY YEAR INNUMERABLE CHICKENS SUFFER A MITE INFESTATION. EVEN IN PROFESSIONAL POULTRY FARMING, THE RED BIRD MITE IS STILL A PROBLEM.AS AN ECTOPARASITE, THE RED BIRD MITE SPECIALIZES IN BIRDS AS HOSTS. SIMILAR TO TICKS, THE RED BIRD MITE FEEDS ON THE BLOOD OF ITS HOSTS. THE OFTEN MASS OCCURENCE OF THE RED BIRD MITE CAUSES ENORMOUS STRESS IN THE CHICKENS, WHICH CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON ALL ANIMALS. BUT THE STRESS FACTOR IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL POINTS THAT MAKE THE INFESTATION WITH THE RED BIRD MITE A NIGHTMARE FOR EVERY BREEDER. IN ADDITION, THEIR IS AN ACUTE RISK OF DEATH DUE TO BLOOD LOSS, INFLAMMATION AT THE INJECTION SITES AND THE TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES.