Why spring is the time to hang a blood louse test
The blood mite season has begun. We are already receiving calls from chicken enthusiasts who are once again dealing with blood mites. Yes, even the week after the extreme frost. This is because the eggs can survive the freezing temperatures. And after this frost, it immediately rose above 10℃, which is the moment for the eggs to hatch. Therefore, it is now time to hang a blood mite test in your chicken coop.
Red mites
14 April '22 • 3 min reading time
How does a blood mite test work?
Blood mites come out of their hiding place at night and crawl up the legs of a chicken or bird to suck blood. Once they have had enough, they crawl back down the same way and look for the nearest hiding place. Mites prefer small dark spaces where they cannot be eaten by chickens. A blood mite test consists of a tube with a stick inside. This tube should be hung as close as possible to the spot where chickens roost, for example, under the perch. Blood mites look for a place as close as possible to the chickens to hide after they have sucked blood. A place that the chicken cannot reach, otherwise it will eat them. Because the blood mite test is closer than the cracks and crevices, the blood mite will build its nest in the tube. You, as a chicken lover, can take out the wooden stick every week or every day to check for blood mites. This way, you can quickly find out if there is an infestation of blood mites. The sooner, the better. Because did you know that an adult blood mite can lay up to 8 eggs a day? That is why it is so important to act as quickly as possible in case of a blood mite infestation.
What should I do if I see red mites on the test stick?
Based on the number of red mites on the stick, you can determine the appropriate treatment. First, clean the stick with warm water and slide it back into the tube. Number of red mites on the stick: 0 (no infestation): take preventive measures by regularly spraying the coop with a silicon dioxide-based coop spray. 1-10 (light infestation): Start giving a herbal supplement to the chickens for at least 14 days and spray the coop with a coop spray. More than 10 (heavy infestation): Clean the coop with plenty of water (e.g., high-pressure washer), start giving a herbal supplement for at least 14 days, and spray the coop with a coop spray. Clean the coop thoroughly again after 4 weeks. As you can see, we recommend combining products when red mites are detected. This is because the spray reaches the young red mites and the supplement affects the adult red mites. If you do not use the combination, you will not reach all the red mites. Also, absolutely do not add garlic to the water. Garlic causes red mites to only start sucking blood when their hunger becomes too great. The moment of blood sucking is therefore delayed (not canceled). With the right herbal supplement, you actually want the red mite to suck blood, because only then does the red mite ingest blood that it cannot digest. Garlic slows down this process. Lastly, it is good to know that when you mix this supplement with the feed and there are already red mites in the coop, there is a high chance that you will suddenly see more red mites during the day after a few days. Don't be alarmed, this is the correct reaction. Because the red mite can no longer digest the blood, it panics, as it can no longer lay eggs. As a result, it will also search for food that is digestible during the day. An additional benefit is that the chicken will eat the red mite when it sees them during the day.
How do I prevent red mite?
Completely preventing red mite is nearly impossible. They often enter the chicken coop through wild birds. Therefore, it is important to make the chicken coop as unattractive as possible for red mite. You can do this by taking the following measures: Hang up a red mite test and check it every week. Place one in the nesting box as well. Spray every 3 to 4 weeks with a coop spray, along the path that the red mite takes to the chickens (from the cracks and crevices to the perch). Ensure that the coop remains dry. Occasionally allow the coop to ventilate well. Create a dust bath for the chickens with fine, suitable bathing sand.
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