Red mite and mites in turkeys: symptoms, control and prevention
The poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) is a blood-feeding mite that feeds at night and hides by day in cracks of the house and equipment. Over the long turkey grow-out the parasite has time to multiply and rob birds of blood and condition. Learn how to recognise it, how to control it, and how to keep treatment records.
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What is red mite in turkeys?
The poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) is a blood-feeding mite that attacks many poultry species, including turkeys. During the day it hides in cracks: in wall fissures, under battens, in equipment joints, in dust nests and around feeders. At night it emerges and feeds on the birds, drinking their blood, then returns to hiding. For this reason the parasite can be hard to spot in daylight — the birds suffer while the house looks ‘empty’. Alongside the red mite, turkeys also host other mites, including the northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum), which, unlike the red mite, lives permanently on the bird, in its plumage.
Why are turkeys especially exposed?
Turkeys are reared for a long time — much longer than broiler chickens. This extended stay of birds in one house gives the parasites plenty of chances to multiply between placement and removal. A mite population can grow very fast, because the red mite’s life cycle is short in warm conditions. With a heavy infestation, large birds lose a genuinely large amount of blood, which leads to anaemia and weakness. The longer the grow-out runs without monitoring, the greater the risk that by the end of the cycle the flock is dealing with a large colony of parasites.
How does red mite harm the flock?
Night feeding by the mites robs turkeys of rest and worsens their sleep — birds are restless, irritable and poorly rested. The bites cause itching and skin irritation, and birds preen and fidget more. With a heavy infestation, blood loss leads to anaemia and pallor of the comb and the unfeathered parts of the head, and weakened birds grow and eat less. In extreme cases a mass infestation causes clear weakness and even deaths. In addition, mites can carry pathogens between birds, so their presence is not only a matter of discomfort but also a health risk.
Where does the parasite hide and how to find it?
The key to recognising red mite is knowing that during the day the parasite is hidden. Most mites are found in cracks close to where the birds rest: by walls, under battens, in joints of the structure and equipment, near feeders and drinkers. Useful tools are traps (e.g. simple strips or cardboard placed in hideouts), night inspections of cracks with a torch, and inspections of the birds’ plumage, especially looking for the northern fowl mite, which sits on the bird. Pale skin and a restless flock are signals that should prompt a thorough check of the house.
Red mite versus other health problems
Restlessness, poorer growth and pallor can have many causes, so red mite is easy to confuse with other problems. It is worth ruling it out first, because it is relatively easy to confirm by inspecting cracks and setting traps. In any unclear health situation in the flock, a consultation with a veterinarian helps. You will find an overview of other disease symptoms in the table: Poultry diseases — symptom table. We cover turkey rearing as a whole in the guide: Turkey farming.
How red mite and mites hit a turkey flock
Each of these signals should prompt the farmer to inspect the cracks and consult a veterinarian.
Restlessness and poor sleep
Night feeding by the mites gives the birds no rest. The flock is restless, irritable and poorly rested, which immediately affects behaviour and feed intake.
Itching and skin irritation
The parasite bites cause itching. Birds preen more and the skin can become irritated, especially where the mites feed most often.
Anaemia and pallor
With a heavy infestation, large turkeys lose a genuinely large amount of blood. The result is anaemia and pallor of the comb and the unfeathered parts of the head — a clear warning sign.
Poorer weight gain
Weakened, sleep-deprived and itching birds eat less and grow more slowly. A decline in gains during the long grow-out may point to a growing mite colony.
Northern fowl mite on the bird
The northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) lives permanently on the bird, in its plumage. It can be seen during feather inspection — unlike the red mite, which hides in the house by day.
Weakness and deaths
In extreme cases, a heavy mass infestation leads to clear weakness in the flock and even deaths. Mites can also carry pathogens between birds.
How to prevent and how to control red mite in turkeys
Effective action combines constant monitoring, thorough cleaning between flocks and products selected by a vet.
Trap monitoring
Regularly check traps placed in hideouts (by walls, battens, equipment) and carry out night inspections of cracks with a torch. Detecting a small colony early is far easier to manage than a mass infestation at the end of the grow-out.
Thorough cleaning between flocks
The break between flocks is the best moment to fight the parasite. Remove the litter, thoroughly clean surfaces and equipment, and especially the places where mites hide. More on litter: Poultry house litter — management.
Disinfection and sealing cracks
After cleaning, disinfect the house and seal the fissures and cracks where red mite hides. Fewer hideouts mean less room for the parasite to multiply in the next cycle.
Products only on a vet’s advice
Control uses, among others, diatomaceous earth (silica) and acaricides. The choice of product, method and timing is set by a veterinarian, with the withdrawal period before slaughter strictly observed. Consultation: Veterinarian.
Biosecurity and limiting wild birds
Mites travel on equipment, clothing and with wild birds. Follow biosecurity rules, check equipment entering the farm and limit access for wild birds. More: Poultry farm biosecurity and Vehicle entry and deliveries.
Treatment records and withdrawal
Every use of a veterinary product must be recorded: date, product, dose, method of use, withdrawal period. DlaFerm.pl lets you keep these records digitally. More: Treatment records and drug withdrawal.
Frequently asked questions about red mite and mites in turkeys
How do you recognise red mite in turkeys?add
The most common signals are a restless flock, poor sleep, itching, pale skin and comb, and poorer growth. Because the parasite hides by day, confirmation comes from inspecting cracks at night with a torch and from traps placed in hideouts. If in doubt, consult a veterinarian.
Why is red mite more dangerous during a long turkey grow-out?add
The longer the birds stay in one house, the more time the parasites have to multiply between placement and removal. The red mite’s life cycle is short in warm conditions, so the colony grows fast. By the end of a long grow-out, an uncontrolled infestation can already be very large.
How does red mite differ from the northern fowl mite?add
The poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) feeds at night and hides by day in cracks of the house and equipment. The northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) lives permanently on the bird, in its plumage, and is seen during feather inspection. For this reason we look for them in different places: one in the house, the other on the bird.
How do you control red mite in a turkey flock?add
It is best to act comprehensively: trap monitoring, thorough cleaning, disinfection and sealing of cracks between flocks, and products (diatomaceous earth or acaricides) selected by a vet. Chemical agents are used only on the vet’s advice and with the withdrawal period before slaughter observed.
Is diatomaceous earth enough to control mites?add
Diatomaceous earth (silica) can help as one element of a programme, but it rarely suffices on its own against a mass infestation. Its effectiveness depends on thorough cleaning, sealing of hideouts and consistent monitoring. The choice of methods and any acaricides is decided by a veterinarian.
How does DlaFerm.pl help with red mite?add
DlaFerm.pl lets you keep digital treatment and withdrawal records — the required documentation for every use of a veterinary product. In the Flock Card you can note observations (restlessness, pallor, gains) and control actions, so you have the flock’s history to hand during inspections and at the next placements.
Sources & resources
Keep flock records with DlaFerm.pl
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