Red Poultry Mite Infestation

The red poultry mite, also known as the chicken mite (Dermanyssus gallinae), is a significant ectoparasite of commercial egg laying and backyard chicken flocks worldwide. Infestations can often go unrecognized for long periods of time, as signs presented by the birds are often initially subtle. Since these mites are nocturnal, the can often go undetected for they will hide during the cracks and crevices of chicken coops during the daylight hours, only coming out at night to feed on the chickens. Chicken flocks infested with red poultry mites often develop anemia, increased stress and feather pecking, restlessness, and show changes in sleep patterns and associated roost positions. Anemia appears as a pale comb and wattles, dullness, reduced egg production, and weakness.

What do red poultry mites look like?

As an adult, the red poultry mite is about 0.6 to 1 mm in length, has 8 legs and can range in color from white to gray, to black to deep red (depending on whether it has recently fed on blood). Red poultry mites have a rapid life cycle and can grow from egg to larva, followed by nymph and the last adult stage, in less than 2 weeks. Red poultry mites are known to flourish in environmental climates with high relative humidity (>70%), like during the warmer summer months. Red poultry mites are able to survive for up to 9 months in the environment without feeding on a host.

How flocks become infested with red poultry mites

The red poultry mite has a large range of hosts and is not limited to just poultry as its name suggests. This mite has been isolated from at least 30 different species of wild birds (including starlings, pigeons, sparrows, rock doves), turkeys, rodents (mice, rats), horses, and humans. Red poultry mites are transmitted to flocks through infected hosts.

Northern Fowl Mite versus Red Poultry Mite

	Northern fowl mite	Red poultry mite
Adult Appearance
Size	0.6-1 mm (0.02-0.04 in)	0.6-1 mm (0.02-0.04 in)
Color	Gray to black; red after feeding	Gray to black; red after feeding
Visible to the naked eye	As tiny dark specs	As tiny dark specs, must look at night.
Feeds on	Blood	Blood
Where they live	On the chicken full time, in the vent area	Hide in crevices and cracks during the day, feeds on chickens at night
Transmission	Wild birds, rodents, contaminated equipment (fomites) and personnel	Wild birds, rodents, wildlife, dogs, cats, humans, contaminated equipment
Where eggs are laid	White to off-white bundles of eggs found along the feather shaft of the vent.	In their hiding spot in the coop
Average Life cycle	5-7 days	2 weeks
How you can tell	Early infestations may be difficult to notice, but once numbers increase they can be clearly seen in the feathers and running along the skin surface. May also be seen on recently laid eggs. Brown, dirty looking debris within feathers. Feathers appear 'dirty'. Surface of the skin is cracked and may bleed. Thickened, inflammation of skin. Eggs and dark excrement near cloaca.	Look for them at night on the birds
Temperature	Cool weather	Warm weather
Clinical signs	Dermatitis, poor condition (feathers appear 'dirty'), anemia, pale pink comb, soiled feathers near vent	Restlessness at night, dermatitis, anemia, may cause chickens to alter where they roost at night.
Zoonotic	Yes	Yes
Carry diseases	Yes	Yes