SGV Chickens: February 2016

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Sometimes I like to just sit on a bench and think. I think about why scary people always want to hold me, "no I don't like it nomader what you think!" I think about that annoying old rooster that used to bully me, I hope he got made into Mc Donald's chicken wings. And yet I'm just a chicken and nobody would ever think that I could have these thoughts because i'm a chicken but I can DEAL WITH IT!!!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

SGV chickens presents......! Info on chicken mites due to the fact that sadly our flock has been temporarily infected with red chicken mites. All of the following info is from wikipedia don't judge this blog. We would write this article ourselves but the information is already out there.

Dermanyssus gallinae (also known as the red mite, poultry mite, red poultry mite, roost mite and chicken mite) is an ectoparasite of poultry and other bird species.

Description[edit]

The mites are blood feeders and attack resting birds at night. They are generally white or greyish in colour, becoming darker or redder when engorged with blood. After feeding, they hide in cracks and crevices away from daylight, where they mate and lay eggs. The mite progresses through 5 life stages: egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. Under favourable conditions this life cycle can be completed within seven days, so populations can grow rapidly - causing anaemia in badly affected flocks of poultry. Young birds are most susceptible. The mites can also affect the health of the birds indirectly, as they may serve as vectors for diseases such as Salmonellosis, avian spirochaetosis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.^[1]

Dermansyssus gallinae will also bite some species of mammals, including humans, sometimes causing dermatitis and skin lesions,^[2]^[3] but it is widely noted that they are incapable of living and reproducing on human hosts (e.g.^[4]).

Clinical signs and diagnosis[edit]

The mites normally feed around the breast and legs of hens, causing pain, irritation, and a decrease in egg production. Pustules, scabs,hyperpigmentation and feather loss may develop.

If they are present in large numbers, D. gallinae can cause anemia in hens which presents as pallor of the comb and wattle.

A presumptive diagnosis can be made in flocks of laying hens, usually based on a history of decreasing egg production, anaemia and mortalities in young or ill birds. Blood spots on eggs indicate infestation within the cloaca of an affected hen. Definitive diagnosis is only achieved following identification of eggs, faeces or the mites themselves

Treatment and prevention[edit]

Ectoparasiticides can be used to treat affected poultry. These chemical controls, if used, should be used in rotation to avoid the build up of resistance. Red mites can survive for up to 10 months in an empty hen house. Creosote treatment of wood will kill mites^{[citation needed]}. Prevention of infestation in a human habitation consists of eliminating vectors (pigeons in eaves, infested backyard poultry, etc.). Elimination of an infestation in a human habitation is best achieved through a combination of eliminating potential vectors (nesting pigeons, backyard poultry, etc.); reducing potential hiding places (rugs, clutter); judicious use of pesticides; consistent use of dehumidifiers to maintain a low humidity environment; maintaining a low temperature in the environment; frequent thorough cleaning; minimizing the amount of time spent in the home; and maintaining excellent hygiene and exercise habits. Treatment of infestation may require topical and oral medication such as ivermectin and may require several months to eradicate.

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