What are feather mites and how do you treat them?
Feather mites do not feed on blood like blood mites, but instead feed on the protein found in the feathers of chickens. They do not suck blood and remain on the chicken. Feather mites stay on the chicken during the day and are easier to see with the naked eye than blood mites. However, feather mites can be difficult to detect during an early infestation, and it takes some time before they cause symptoms. Chickens usually get feather mites from new chickens that are purchased and are infected. Wild birds can also transmit this mite. Especially chickens that roam freely in the garden and therefore have a higher chance of coming into contact with wild birds are at a greater risk of infestation.
Feather lice
4 October '22 • 1 min reading time
Recognizing feather mites in chickens
Unlike red mites, feather mites are clearly visible on chickens. However, it usually starts with recognizing the symptoms: Chickens show clear signs of itching, scratch themselves with their beaks between the feathers, or shake their heads, experience feather loss, and have flaky patches of skin between the feathers. Feather mites are small, brownish creatures that sit between and on the feathers. They are particularly visible on light-colored chickens. By parting the feathers near the cloaca, you can often easily see the feather mites. Feather mites can also be recognized by the clusters of eggs they lay at the base of the feather shafts, which appear as a grayish chalky layer at the bottom of the feathers.
Treat feather mites primarily internally!
Feather mites are easily transmitted to other chickens, so it is important to treat them as soon as possible to prevent infections from spreading to other chickens. External products are more difficult to reach feather mites. A sand bath for chickens can be repellent, but choose a mineral sand with a uniform grain size, as it adheres best between the feathers. Additionally, it is important to work with an internal supplement. An herbal preparation based on, among others, echinacea, astragalus, uncaria, gentian, thyme, citronellol, and citronellal acts as a repellent and makes the proteins in the feathers and skin flakes indigestible for the feather mite. As a result, the feather mite can no longer reproduce, and the population will gradually decrease. Therefore, it is especially important to provide an internal nutritional supplement for feather mites, as this will make the biggest difference. External products can then be used as additional support.
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