Mary Allen
Birds can be infected with various species of mites and parasites. What mites are there, how to fight and prevent them.
The plumage of birds provides a diverse habitat for small creatures. The authors and veterinarians Richard Schöne and Ronald Schmäschke presented detailed documentation on this in their book “Lebensraum Federhemd”. Not only wild birds but also aviary birds suffer from such parasites. For example, over 2,500 species of feather mites are known that specialize in eating bird feathers. If aviary birds are affected, sprays can be purchased from the vet that is applied directly to the plumage.
In contrast to the so-called feather lice, which only live on the bird’s plumage, red mites are mobile. They live wherever birds breed. During the day they hide in cracks, under porches, and in crevices. At night, however, they arise and attack birds resting on perches and especially young ones in nests. Red mite infestation can be fatal for young birds because they cannot cope with the constant loss of blood. Adult birds also become weaker and more susceptible to other diseases. Red mites can survive for months without feeding on blood. They only die when the heat is above 40 degrees and when it is cold below minus 20 degrees. So even if a birdhouse has been empty for months, the mites can still be present.
Prevention is Better
Fowl red mites are introduced into garden aviaries by wild birds that perch on the aviaries. If you put purchased birds next to the others without quarantine, you run the risk of mite transmission. The red mite multiplies by leaps and bounds. She particularly likes hot and humid summer weather, but she is also active in winter.
The veterinarian Willy Häfeli, who worked for a long time at the Dählholzli zoo in Bern, breeds numerous species of finches himself. “I quarantine every newcomer and treat them for mites first,” he says. He uses the product Ivomec available in veterinary surgeries and puts a drop on each back feather. The remedy is generally very effective against external and internal parasites. Gouldian finches, for example, but also canaries and other species often suffer from air sac mites, says Häfeli. Signs of illness are heavy breathing and wheezing. Häfeli also uses Ivomec against these parasites.
On the other hand, bald heads indicate a grave mite infestation, for example in canaries and budgerigars. In the case of budgerigars, the beak area can also be affected. Digging mites live in the epidermis of the proteins in the feather roots. That’s why the feathers fall out. In this case, the bald spot should be rubbed with petroleum jelly to close the mites’ burrows and suffocate them.
Mange mites cause calcareous legs because their boring activity causes whitish crusts and powder to form on the legs and toes. They feed on the proteins in the skin. Legs become rough and scaly. Again, the legs should be rubbed with Vaseline. The procedure has to be repeated several times.
Hygienic breeding facilities are essential to prevent a severe mite infestation in the first place. It is worth taking a look at poultry farming because chickens in particular often suffer from mite infestation. The experienced bantam breeder Andreas Lutz from Engelberg SG says: “You shouldn’t even give the mites opportunities to nest in a stable.” The perches in his stalls rest freely on a frame, leaving a gap between the ends and the walls. So you are not stretched between the walls. “Right there, between the porch and the wall, mites nest during the day,” says Lutz, who has perfected his system over decades.
Diatomaceous Earth and Cleanliness
The mobile perches are rubbed with kieselguhr or diatomaceous earth – a powdered substance that is mainly obtained from diatoms. Mites also often rest on the underside of perches during the day. With this system, Lutz gives mites no chance. British canary breeder Brian Keenan even puts diatomaceous earth in his soft food and says he hasn’t had air sac mite infestations on his Yorkshire canaries since.
Hygiene is essential if you want to prevent mite infestation. No cracks in the breeding boxes and aviaries, a regular cleaning with a damp sponge, no remains of feces on the walls, frequent replacement of bedding or newspaper in the feces drawer, and fresh air are a matter of course. Hygiene also includes the cleaning and treatment of transport containers and the area around breeding cages and aviaries. Prevention is always better, natural means are preferable to chemical ones. Clay, which is rubbed into perches, side and rear walls, nesting boxes, and wooden frames of aviaries, also has a prophylactic effect against mite infestation.
The English bird breeder Andy Early has similar experience with mite prevention on a natural basis. He writes in the British weekly magazine “Cage & Aviary Birds” that he lets fresh air flow into his bird breeding room using a fan that is controlled by a timer. He placed a basin of water in front of the air vent, into which he dribbled lavender oil. The air, enriched with moisture and the scent of lavender, spreads throughout the room.