Feather Mites In Birds / Bird Mite Treatment
Feather Mites are a skin problem aviary birds suffer from. And although this parasitic infestation seldom occurs in the pet birds staying inside, if left untreated, it can lead to the bird’s death and be contagious to other birds.
Symptoms and Types
When a bird is infested with feather mites, it will be restless throughout the day even more so at night when quite often mites will come out from hiding to feed on the birds.
Due to the blood loss, the bird will also suffer from anaemia. And young birds infected with feather mites have a higher fatality rate.
Causes
It is caused by the parasitic red mite, which is only present only in the outdoors.
Once infested, the feather mites remain in the wooden nest boxes and can re-infect the bird.
Diagnosis
The best way to find out if your bird has parasitic feather mites, is to cover its cage with a white sheet at night (making sure the bottom of the cage is covered as well). Overnight, some feather mites will fall on the sheet at the bottom and in the morning you will see the mites or red/blood marks from the mites on the white sheet where the mites have been feeding on the birds the night before.
Treatment
It is recommend that you consult a veterinarian to determine the type of mite, when identified the mites as feather mites, sprays, powders or other medication can be purchased for use either on the bird or sprays and powder for their cage/aviary.
During and after the treatment, thoroughly clean the bird cages, perches and nest boxes. If possible, replace them with new ones.
This will help in preventing re-infestation, you can also use Dr Rob Marshall S76 and let the birds bathe in this to remove any external mites.
