Now that I’ve got you all itching and paying attention, I’d like to cover some basics on mites from a poultry health point of view. There are several kinds of mites including the Red Mite and the Northern Fowl Mite, but I’m going to let you research the different mites on your own. I’d like to address the overall health of your birds and the damage that something as simple as a mite infestation can do.

     I’ve witnessed an otherwise healthy bird be downed by a mite problem. A severe infestation can lead to anemia and can easily kill a good bird in three days if untreated. A classic symptom of a mite infestation (other than physically seeing them through physical examination) is paleness in the comb and/or wattles. If your bird seems depressed, sulks, and is pale in their skin color, then the first place I would look is the vent area. Although infestations can occur in other areas of the bird, the vent area is the most likely since the mites can get their moisture from that area easily.

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