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    Lice and Mites

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    Kimberly Wen Abdula
    The document discusses poultry lice and mites. Poultry lice are fast-moving, six-legged insects that live on chickens and feathers, laying eggs at the base. Mites are smaller than lice and move more slowly, biting chickens and humans. The document provides details on identifying, preventing, and treating lice and mite infestations, noting that clean housing and limiting wildlife contact are key.

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    Lice and Mites

    Uploaded by

    Kimberly Wen Abdula
    48 views13 pages
    The document discusses poultry lice and mites. Poultry lice are fast-moving, six-legged insects that live on chickens and feathers, laying eggs at the base. Mites are smaller than lice and move more slowly, biting chickens and humans. The document provides details on identifying, preventing, and treating lice and mite infestations, noting that clean housing and limiting wildlife contact are key.

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    LICE-AND-MITES

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    The document discusses poultry lice and mites. Poultry lice are fast-moving, six-legged insects that live on chickens and feathers, laying eggs at the base. Mites are smaller than lice and move more slowly, biting chickens and humans. The document provides details on identifying, preventing, and treating lice and mite infestations, noting that clean housing and limiting wildlife contact are key.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    48 views13 pages

    Lice and Mites

    Uploaded by

    Kimberly Wen Abdula
    The document discusses poultry lice and mites. Poultry lice are fast-moving, six-legged insects that live on chickens and feathers, laying eggs at the base. Mites are smaller than lice and move more slowly, biting chickens and humans. The document provides details on identifying, preventing, and treating lice and mite infestations, noting that clean housing and limiting wildlife contact are key.

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    Lice and Mites

    Poultry Lice
    -are tiny, wingless, six-
    legged, flat-bodied, insects
    with broad, round heads.
    They lay their eggs on the
    host bird’s feathers,
    especially near the base of
    the feather shaft
    Poultry lice are fast- moving, 6 legged, flat
    insects with round heads that live only on
    the chicken and its feathers. They are
    beige or straw colored and are typically
    found at the base of feather shafts near the
    vent. Poultry lice feed on dead skin and
    other debris such as feather quill casings.
    When parting the feathers near the vent to
    inspect for parasites, they can be seen
    briefly as they run away. The eggs laid by
    the female are seen at the bases of
    feather.
    How do poultry get lice?

    The most common ways chickens acquire lice


    are from wild birds and other chickens. Once a
    chicken is infested, lice spread by crawling from
    one bird to another. Contact with infested
    feathers, especially during a molt, also helps
    spread lice.
    Poultry Mites
    -There are two major types of
    mites found on the body of
    poultry. They are the Northern
    Fowl Mite (or in tropical
    environ�ments, the Tropical
    Fowl Mite) and the Chicken
    Mite (or Red Roost Mite).
    Typical signs of a mite infestation are
    scabs near the vent, eggs on the
    feathers and feather shafts and a light
    colored bird's feathers may appear dirty
    in spots where the mites have left
    droppings and debris. A heavy mite
    infestation can lead to anemia and
    death of a chicken. Mites will bite
    humans, causing minor irritation in the
    affected area (and an urgent desire to
    take a gasoline shower).
    Table 1. Comparison chart to distinguish between
    lice and mites.
    Lice Mites
    Size 2-3 millimeters long 1 millimeter (ground
    pepper)
    Speed Fast moving Slow moving
    Colour Straw coloured (light Dark reddish black
    brown)
    Egg location Base of feather shaft Along feather shaft
    Egg color White White or off white
    Best detection time Daytime Daytime or Night time
    Treatment
    Sanitation and cleanliness are the keys to lice
    and mite control. Sanitation includes cleaning
    and disinfecting housing facilities and
    equipment between flocks. Moreover, reducing
    people traffic through housing facilities is
    recommended. Eliminating the contact between
    flocks and wild birds can reduce the potential
    transfer of external parasites.
    Flock Symptoms
    Flocks infested with lice or mites show similar
    general symptoms. Birds will have decreased egg
    production; decreased weight gain; decreased
    carcass-grading quality; increased disease
    susceptibility; and decreased food intake. If any of
    these generalized symptoms are observed, a visual
    evaluation is recommended. Inspect birds around
    the ventral region for signs of lice or mites since
    infestations usually start in this area of the bird.
    PREVENTION
    Mites and lice are most commonly brought into chicken
    yards by wildlife, especially by wild birds. The use of best
    biosecurity practices, regular inspections, and vigilant
    observation will limit the damage they inflict.

    • Clean coops regularly, disposing of loose feathers that


    can carry hatching eggs (nits).
    • Limit visits from fellow poultry- keepers who can transport
    the creepy crawlies on their clothes, footwear or
    equipment, (vehicles, shared farm equipment, etc.).
    PREVENTION
    •Do not attract wildlife to the chicken yard with the use of
    wild bird feeders.
    • Secure chicken feed to prevent parasite and disease-
    carrying wildlife from visiting regularly.
    • Secure chicken parasite and feed to prevent disease-
    carrying wildlife from visiting regularly.
    •Always quarantine new birds properly before introducing
    them to an existing flock.
    • Provide adequate dusting areas for chickens to care for
    own skin and feathers.
    THANK YOU!
    AL JUNE C. MARBELLA
    JOHN INO L. OSTONAL
    MARK DOMINIC T. VENTURA
    II BTVTED-AP
    RERERENCE
    Pickworth , C. L.. (2007, October). Common external parasites in poultry: Lice and
    mites. Retrieved from: https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/common-external-
    parasites-in-poultry-lice-and-mites

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