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Depluming Mites

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The “depluming mite” can infect most backyard fowl and live their entire life cycle on the host bird. It is related to the scaly leg mite and is also a burrowing mite. However, whilst the scaly leg mite burrows in between the scales of the leg, the depluming mite burrows into the feather shafts particularly on the head, neck, back, belly and upper legs.

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Rather than laying eggs, depluming mites give birth to live young. These mites can complete their lifecycle in as little as 17 days. They tend to be most prevalent in spring and summer, with numbers falling in autumn. The mites can only be transmitted between birds either by direct contact, or if they are knocked or scratched of, they can climb on to a new bird.

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Treatment of burrowing mite is problematic since mite powders are unable to reach these mites in their burrows. This means that an anti-parasitic preparation such as Ivermectin needs to be used. However, it would be best if you remembered that such a treatment is not licensed for chickens and other poultry. However, it’s extensively use in the chicken industry and regularly prescribed by vets for chickens as there is no other treatment available.

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When one bird is affected, it is best to assume that all your birds have. The coop should be treated as you would for a red mite infestation (Click Here).

SUGGESTED TREATMENT:

  1. Give your bird a sulphur (2 oz. sulphur + 1 oz. of soap in 1 gallon water) dip. This is easier if you have a tall narrow bucket that the birds can’t flap about in. Cover as much of the bird as possible and massage in all over the bird. Squeeze as much of the mixture off as possible and leave to dry naturally.

  2. When dry, treat the bird with ivermectin 1% spot on drops. On a large bird put one drop on the skin on the back of the neck, one drop under each wing on the skin and a drop on the skin near the bird’s vent. On a smaller bird, scale the dose down. If in doubt over the dosage, consult your vet.

  3. After treatment move each chicken to an alternative accommodation unit.

  4. Remove all bedding and anything that is removable from the coop.

  5. Either bag and bin, or burn all contaminated bedding - Don’t put contaminated bedding on you compost heap.

  6. Take anything apart that you can, toughly inspect and scrub it with a suitable disinfectant. Allowing to dry in fresh air and sunlight is preferable if at all possible.

  7. Scrub the coop and anything that can't be removed with a suitable disinfectant and allow to dry.

  8. ​Spray a mite killing agent onto all surfaces and into all cracks and crevices and allow to dry. This should leave a coating on the surface and so continue working for a few days after the application has dried.

  9. If possible, get something with a really high velocity spray to force the mite killing agent right into the cracks and hard to reach areas. Leave to dry after application.

  10. When dry, spread a covering of diatomaceous earth powder or similar over all surfaces

  11. You can now put new bedding in the coop. When the new bedding is in, dust the birds perches, bedding and nesting boxes with a diatomaceous earth or similar.

  12. Attach white double-sided tape on the bird’s perch, also near any cracks and joints. This will help to show if any mites have survived the cleaning process.

 

Repeat the dip and Ivermectin after two weeks, but clean the coop every three days for at least two weeks or until there is no evidence of the mite’s presence.

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