Red mites | Surrey Poultry Vet

Red mite treatments

To learn more about red mite prevention and identification, please watch my Red Mite Webinar.

I see a lot of discussion on social media about various over the counter treatments, some of which are veterinary products. If your birds are suffering from a red mite or northern fowl mite infestation you should contact your veterinary surgeon. Blood loss due to mites can cause anaemia and immunosuppression. The only medicine licenced for use in poultry against red mites and northern fowl mites is fluralaner, which you can discuss with your veterinary surgeon. It is a prescription-only medication.

Comparison of medicines

Products authorised for use in poultry

Fluralaner *

Rapid elimination of 99%+ of Poultry Red Mites and Northern Fowl Mites.
0-day egg withdrawal so safe to eat the eggs after treatment.
Licenced in chickens.
Birds are treated via their via drinking water.
Only blood sucking parasites of hens are exposed to the medicine. Beneficial coop insects, including those who predate on mites, are not exposed.
No need for traditional sprays and or any other environmental treatments.
Likely only to be necessary twice per year if used properly, in Spring when they return from hibernation & Autumn, before they hibernate again.
Birds are dosed based on their bodyweight so all or a representative sample of birds must be weighed.

*this information was summarised from material on the MSD website, makers of Exzolt.

If your vet has prescribed a product containing fluralaner for your red mite or northern fowl mite infestation, but does not stock it, they can request the exact quantity needed from me, using a prescription. I can also assist them in calculating doses if necessary. For accurate dosing, all birds should be weighed.

A dispensing fee of £18 will be incurred to cover professional time (10min).

If you are local to Surrey and have an infestation of red mites or northern fowl mites and wish to discuss treatments, you may book an in-person consultation where I will determine the most appropriate action or treatment and advise on any husbandry aspects as required.

Northern Fowl Mites on a hen

Products not authorised for use in poultry, incurring an egg withdrawal

Ivermectin: Short term action so repeat treatments often necessary. Active against some worms too, thus unnecessarily encouraging resistance.

Care must be taken when purchasing pigeon preparations as some products contain substances that are prohibited for use in food producing species due to risks on human health e.g. those containing Ronidazole.

Permethrin/Cypermethrin: Present inside household flea sprays. Short, action with questionable effect on mites. Repeat treatments often necessary. Lack of safety data if applied directly to the birds. Not environmentally friendly - if sprayed into the environment, they will kill other insects in the coop, even ones which predate on mites so can make the problem worse in the long term.

Products which should not be used in poultry as not registered for use in any food producing species. Eggs from treated birds should not be eaten again.

Fipronil: not licenced in hens or any food producing animals. Short, action with questionable effect on mites. Repeat treatments often necessary. Eggs should never be eaten again after birds have been treated. Not environmentally friendly - if sprayed into the environment, they will kill other insects in the coop, even ones which predate on mites so can make the problem worse in the long term.