Are mosquitoes and other biting insects sucking the life out your summer? If you are like most folks in North Carolina, the heat and the humidity have taken their toll by now — in fact, most of the plants look exhausted too. Even if you are part reptile and love nothing more than to soak up the warm summer sun, you are probably sick of the all the bugs. While insects, such as mosquitoes and ticks, take a bite out your summer fun, they can also be a big drain on our herds and flocks, as well.

When most people thick of insects and chickens, they vision the flock pecking away at a big bug buffet. Chickens eat a considerable amount of insects, but most blood-sucking insects fly, attack at night or live directly on the bird, making it difficult for them to defend themselves from these pests. While most chickens naturally have little exposed skin, their combs and wattles are still susceptible. Chickens and other poultry have additional bloodthirsty pests that like to take up residence on the birds. This group of pests are called ectoparasites.

If you have children, you are probably familiar with one of the bugs in this group: the louse. Though they are not the same insect kids share at school, they are similar and attach their eggs to the feather shaft at the base. Often birds with a heavy lice infestation appear to have dandruff.

The other bugs in the ectoparasite group are technically arachnids since they have eight legs. These are the mites and there a three common types: scaly leg, northern fowl and chicken mites. The scaly leg mite, as its name suggests, attacks the legs and borrows under the scales, causing the legs to look and feel rough and often develop a wart-looking scabs. Scaly leg mites can be treated with petroleum jelly or mineral oils to smother the mite, but this method requires frequent application. The other two mites look similar and produce similar effects on the birds, and can usually be treated with the same pesticides. But because they have different life cycles and locations, it important to identify which type your birds have before treating.

In fact, accurately identifying any pest — be it an insect, fungus or weed — is the most important, and first, step in deciding when and how to treat. The chicken mite — aka the red, gray, or roost mite — lives in the cracks and crevices of the barn or nest where it lays its eggs and comes out to feed on the birds at night; while the Northern fowl mite stays on the bird most of the time and lays its eggs along the feather shaft. It only takes four days for the Northern fowl mite egg to mature but ten days for the chicken mite. This is why it is important to know your pest — to treat at the right locations and the correct interval, because it requires two treatments to kill mites that mature after the first treatment and before they produce another generation.

There are several products that can be effective in controlling all of the ectoparasites. The key is to choose the product that will be most effective and safe for your situation. If you have questions about identifying pest issues or be sure to contact your local extension office.

Richard Goforth is an area specialized agent in poultry for the N.C. Cooperative Extension serving the western region of the state, from Richmond County to Cherokee County.

Photo courtesy of Richard Goforth The scaly leg mite attacks the legs of chickens and borrows under the scales, causing the legs to look and feel rough and often develop a wart-looking scabs.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_chickenfoot.jpgPhoto courtesy of Richard Goforth The scaly leg mite attacks the legs of chickens and borrows under the scales, causing the legs to look and feel rough and often develop a wart-looking scabs.

https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_richardGoforth.jpg

Richard Goforth

Extension At Your Service