EXTERNAL PARASITES OF POULTRY 



The external parasites of poultry are many in 

 number, at least i8 different kinds of mites and 9 

 or 10 different kinds of lice are parasitic on poul- 

 try. One tick and two fleas are also found as pests 

 on domestic fowls. 



Chicken mite ^ (Dermanyssus gallincu) 

 Order — Acarina 



The chicken mite can be found in almost any 

 poultry house and often exceedingly abundant in 

 some, especially unclean ones; it has a marked ef- 

 fect on egg production ; will prevent hens from fat- 

 tening and will drive sitting hens from nests; it 

 causes a high mortality among young chicks and 

 is a pernicious pest; the mouth parts are fitted for 

 piercing and sucking and the mites suck the blood 

 of their hosts ; they are usually found on fowls only 

 at night, for they remain hidden during the day in 

 cracks and crevices of the perches and houses. 



The mite varies in color from pale yellowish to 

 red; it deposits small white eggs in cracks and 

 crevices of the perches and nest boxes ; these hatch 

 in 3 or 4 davs into almost white six-legged mites 

 that gradually grow by casting their skins until 

 they become adults with 8 legs ; the life cycle may 

 be passed through in 9 or 10 days; they increase 

 enormously. 



Control — Poultry houses should be built so that 

 every part of them is well lighted and aired; the 

 houses should be kept scrupulously clean ; the houses 



1 Herrick — Mississippi Expt. Stat, Bull. 78. 

 Repp— Iowa Expt. Stat, Bull. 69. 



153 . . 



