mites?

[Anonymous]

found these on feathers of a few presumably healthy fowl last night. are these mites? anything to be concerned about?

[Kenny Troiano]

These are called feather mites, and if left along, they can destroy the look of the birds plumage. You mostly see these in the tail and hackle feathers. I like to spay Permethrins mixed with soap into the feathers.

Permethrin is an insecticide in the pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals that act like natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower. This is safe to humans and animals, but deadly to insects.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Tony, Is that anything you would consider a weakness? Something some birds are susceptible to and others not? I looks at several other of what I consider my better birds and did not see any.

[Kenny Troiano]

I do believe there is a genetic factor going on there as well. I have always culled birds that were more susceptible to parasites, and today I rarely see parasites (internal and external) in my fowl. My mentor, Doug Huggins, who is a great student and teacher of genetics believes this to be true as well. We have had many discussions on this very subject.

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