Bird mites can be a nuisance for homeowners. These parasites cause painful itching when they bite. Bird mites are dangerous to domestic birds, including chickens, and can infest birds that you keep in your home as pets.
Removing bird mites can be difficult if you have an infestation. Often times, insecticides will control the population immediately, but the remaining bird mites will begin to breed again, and the infestation will continue.
The best prevention methods include removing all bird nests from areas near your home. Check for nests in eaves, near attics and in tree limbs that overhang your roof or are near windows. When removing nests, be sure to wear rubber gloves and also cover your mouth and nose with a respirator or mask. There are a number of airborne spores that can cause health problems. Wetting down the nest area with a hose or bucket prior to removal of the nest helps to control the airborne organisms.
Bird mites can also infest seed in bird feeders, so make sure that you clean bird feeders with hot, soapy water. If the areas infested are poultry or farm areas, all bedding and nesting materials must be replaced.
All nesting areas need to be treated and crevices where bird mites can enter repaired. Seal all cracks near roofs and eaves, as well as air conditioning window units. Pest control professionals should be consulted to treat these areas further with pesticides to keep the bird mites from infesting the home.
Bird mites can also be confused with other types of mites or species in the Acarina family. If bird mites are not properly identified, they can't be treated. Pesticides will only be effective on the proper species.