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Chickens, like lots of other animals, suffer from mites (of which there a lots of different types). One of the most common in chickens is the Red Mite.
Red mites can be hard to identify, they live in dark crevices and cracks of the hen house during the day, before coming out at night. These mites are blood sucking – giving them the distinct red colour and name. Without treatment, severe red mite infestations can be fatal to your hens.
Signs to look out for
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Irritation and pecking
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Reluctance to roost at night
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Reduced laying
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Pale combs and wattles
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Weak
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Lethargic
Signs to look out for
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Irritation and pecking
-
Reluctance to roost at night
-
Reduced laying
-
Pale combs and wattles
-
Weak
-
Lethargic
What do I do if I think my chickens have red mite?
Getting rid of red mite can be incredibly challenging, especially as they thrive in small cracks that are nearly impossible to clean. Using a plastic hen house, with less space for organic material to hide and red mites to thrive can help make the cleaning process easier.
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Strict + thorough disinfection protocols of the housing
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Diametacious earth
We also have a relatively new product available for red mite treatment – Exzolt. An effective treatment, given in the drinking water for ease of administration. This can only be supplied on veterinary prescription. If you think you might have a red mite problem, contact the practice now for us to arrange a consultation and help get your hens back happy and healthy!