Northern Fowl Mite: an summary, therapy and prevention

12 September 2024

4 minute learn

Introduction

The northern fowl mite is considered the first and most critical exterior parasite of poultry in North America. This specific mite is frequent on wild birds and rodents, which may readily introduce it into poultry manufacturing amenities.

Your complete life cycle is spent on the host, the place it feeds on blood and is a supply of irritation to the hen. The mite can lay numerous eggs on the base of the feathers, often within the vent space of the hen. Northern fowl mites favor temperatures round 65 to 68° F and are sometimes extra of an issue throughout cool climate, however they might be discovered on birds at any time of yr.

Northern fowl mites will usually die inside 3–4 days with no host, however well-fed northern fowl mites could survive as much as 2–3 weeks off the host at room temperature.

Life cycle

The eight-legged grownup northern fowl mite could be very small and darkish crimson to black in shade. There are 4 phases within the mite life cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and grownup. The whole life cycle from egg to egg-laying feminine may be as little as 5 days. This may end up in speedy will increase in mite populations, particularly on layers and breeders saved for prolonged intervals. Feminine grownup mites lay eggs straight on their host. Grownup feminine mites full the egg-laying course of in two days after taking a blood meal from their host.

The eggs hatch in 1–2 days, relying on the temperature and humidity. This brief life cycle signifies that mite populations can rise quickly. Mites are inclined to congregate close to the vent space, however the again can also be a preferred web site because the mite inhabitants will increase.

Transmission

Mites are simply transmitted from hen to hen by direct contact or by crawling from one hen to a different. A mite-free home can grow to be infested by a number of totally different strategies, together with: folks, a contaminated pullet hauling trailer, the introduction of an infested pullet flock, wild birds, rodents or contaminated egg flats and racks which are hauled from farm to farm by the egg truck. A extreme northern fowl mite infestation can develop and unfold by way of a flock in 3–6 weeks. Mild infestations of mites typically go unnoticed and are troublesome to establish. In a flock of breeder birds, the roosters typically have larger populations of northern fowl mites than the hens. Mites readily unfold from the roosters to the hens; subsequently, roosters must be examined at a better ratio to the hens.

Northern fowl mites may be discovered on the feathers surrounding the vent space (prime), in addition to on eggs and egg belts (backside). Photographs courtesy Dr. Bradley Mullens, College of California, Riverside.

Signs

Heavier infestations produce a darkish gray discoloration and matting of feathers across the vent. The discoloration is the results of giant populations of mites, mite eggs, their feces and shed skins. Different signs embody:

• Decreased feed consumption and speedy lack of physique weight
• Anemia (exhibit pale combs) andimmunosuppression (extra prone toother illnesses)
• Decreased egg manufacturing +/- elevated mortality

Therapy

• Addition of feed grade sulfur (e.g. Poultry Defend FG) beginning at 2 lbs/ton for 1 week, then 3 lbs/ton for 1 week
• Mud bins utilizing sulfur mud (e.g. Yellow Jacket) – utilizing 20–30 shallow plastic bins per barn (should have the ability to disinfect the bins)
• Spraying each birds (specializing in vent areas) and nests with Ravap insecticide each 5 days (monitor birds and repeat as mandatory); spray strain must be 125 PSI to make sure penetration of spray previous feathers.
• Spray at 5-day intervals (e.g. day 0, day 5, day 10, and so forth.)

Prevention

Prevention is by far the perfect and simplest technique of northern fowl mite management.

• Take steps to exclude mite vectors similar to wild birds and rodents from the poultry home, and forestall the motion of mites from one farm to a different on egg flats, racks, different tools, or folks
• Promptly clear up spilled feed round feed bins or elsewhere earlier than it attracts wild birds and rodents
• Keep bait stations alongside exterior and binterior poultry home partitions year-round, when birds are current and in between flocks
• Maintain wild birds and rodents out of manufacturing homes means sealing up the holes and any potential entry factors 
• Monitoring birds on a weekly or bi-monthly foundation is essential to detecting a mite drawback early
• Isolate contaminated farms, and readjust site visitors flows from infested to scrub farms and take precautions with all protecting clothes worn
• On the hatchery, pay shut consideration to egg deliveries from infested farms; this contains strictly managing personnel, automobiles, racks, egg flats, and different tools which have contact with infested farms