Red mite (red tick) in pigeons
Other names: Fash، Red tick، Red bug
Symptoms
- Anemia (pale skin and flesh), weak or dead squabs in the nest
- Restlessness at night; the mite hides in cracks by day
How it spreads
Lives in the cracks of the loft and comes out to suck blood at night.
Diagnosis
Examine the cracks at night with a flashlight/white cloth.
Treatment
Spray the loft (cracks and nests) with a suitable pesticide, repeating after 7 days to break the cycle. [Update 3] Harlin & Wade 2009: Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus suck blood and get onto the bird at night; ivermectin with pyrethrin 0.15% or carbaryl 5% dip/dusting. Merck: wooden nest boxes should be discarded and replaced.
Prevention
A loft without cracks, periodic cleaning.
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.