Bird Mites
How To Kill Bird Mites Naturally Without Chemicals
Bird mites (avian mites) are tiny parasitic arthropods that may bite humans when birds become unavailable. They can invade homes by the thousands when abandoned bird nests remain lodged into chimneys, attics, gutters or window mounted air conditioning units. Bird mite infestations are notoriously resistant to standard chemicals and often become chronic. For this reason, essential oils are quite popular in the world of mite treatment. For a list of essential oils that are most commonly associated with killing mites, CLICK HERE.
A Much Cheaper Way to Buy Essential Oils!
If you’ve been using standard oils in your battle against mites, you already know that tiny bottles of tea tree, cedar and eucalyptus are quite expensive! For a more economical way of to treating carpets and furniture, look into our CEDAR OIL SPRAY FORMULA. It won’t stain carpets or fabrics because it’s filtered in small batches, and it’s available in quart and gallon sizes for veterinarians, pest control operators and homeowners who need to treat wide areas. It has also come to our attention that many customers are using essential oils in their washing machines to kill mites. For a more economical way of doing laundry, look into our VET’S CHOICE CONCENTRATE. This product was originally designed to add to bath water for pets who are infested with fleas, ticks or mites. Since the concentrate contains 90% cedar oil, it should not be used full strength on skin
Why Do Bird Mite Infestations Tend to be Chronic?
Northern Fowl Mites (Omithonyssus Slyviarum) cannot survive more than a month without a host. Red Poultry Mites (Demanyssus Gallinae) can live up to nine months without a blood meal. In other words, certain species can present problems for homeowners long after an initial infestation is thought to be resolved. Unlike common mites connected to pets and carpeting, bird mites have a tendency to disperse throughout the home. That might include walls, ceilings, eaves, attics and basements. For this reason, fumigation with our cedar oil fog machine is highly recommended. The dry fog penetrates unseen cracks and crevices in a way that traditional spraying methods can’t duplicate. Fogging will also eliminate the need to apply pesticides to walls with a mop, a common practice in mite infested homes. For chronic cases, we recommend fogging twice in 48 hours. If your home is 1,000 square feet, a two-gallon purchase will provide enough to fog twice and spray carpets and furniture.
Bird mites are notoriously resistant to modern chemicals. All mites absorb air through breathing pores called sphericals. The aroma of our organic cedar oil formula triggers an instant danger response, forcing the arthropod to close its breathing pores. Direct spray application of our formula to couches, headboards and bed frames is also recommended, as bird mites often hide near places where warm bodies rest. After removing nests from gutters, spray the affected area with our outdoor concentrate to prevent residual mites from making their way into cracks and crevices outside your home. Remove birds from coops and cages before spraying or fogging. Allow the aroma to settle for a few hours before returning birds to their home.
What Makes Our Indoor Cedar Oil Formula Powerful and Unique?
- Leaves a fresh cedar aroma to discourage insects from moving back into sprayed territory. (Residual effects are just as important as immediate effects, especially when it comes to treating carpets, bedding, cabinets and wood floors.)
- Much less expensive than purchasing essential oils packaged in tiny bottles. Tiny bottles are meant for skin, not for wide scale home treatment!
- Won’t stain carpets, bedding or furniture because it’s steam distilled in small batches to remove impurities.
- Dissolves eggs on contact, but not by proximity. In other words, eggs must come in contact with the formula, not just the vapors.
- Can be used on human skin and clothing as an organic insect repellent.
- Can be used directly on dogs and horses to treat fleas and mites.
- Is used by housing authorities across the country against bedbugs because these hearty parasites have an uncanny ability to develop resistance to chemical pesticides.
More Facts About Bird Mites
SIZE AND APPEARANCE: For an idea of how big an adult bird mite can get, see the period at the end of this sentence. The color of a bird mite is translucent white. After a blood meal, it will turn reddish mahogany or reddish brown. Mite eggs are white in color and oval in shape, but they cannot be seen without the aid of a magnifying glass. The same applies to larvae and nymphs. Correct identification is difficult without a trained entomologist, as bird mites are hard to differentiate from rodent mites.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Stubby legs make it impossible for bird mites to jump. In outdoor environments, bird mites typically transfer to humans by way of crawling up pant legs or floating down from tree branches. They can also transfer to clothing when passing through shrub thickets and heavily forested areas.
ABILITY TO INFEST PEOPLE AND HOMES: Unlike scabies mites, bird mites are not thought to burrow under human skin. They are said to drop off after attempting to feed on humans. University websites tend to report that bird mites cannot get proper nutrition from human blood, but this notion is often disputed. In an article published by poultrykeeper.com, a Dr. George from the University of Lancaster is quoted as saying, “With regard to red mite feeding upon humans, it seems that this is actually more common than once thought. An increasing number of reports in the academic press are identifying cases of this, where red mite have also been found to infest other mammals, including rats and horses.”
In a 2008 report written by Russel Goldman and published by ABC World News, a Long Island woman was said to be placed in a quarantined hospital room after emergency workers found her skin crawling with nearly invisible parasites that doctors believed to be bird mites. As for anecdotal reports from callers who raise chickens, we’ve encountered many people who claim that bird mites can persist inside bird free homes for years. Sick or elderly individuals with compromised immune systems are more likely to report burrowing sensations than healthy individuals living under the same roof.
For a qualified verdict on the bird mite’s ability to infest homes and persist on people, it may be helpful to consult a local veterinarian. University entomologists who don’t specialize in mites may be hesitant to speak to random callers. Veterinarians tend to have extensive experience in dealing with pet birds, rodents, dogs and cats. For a fee, it’s possible to enlist a Veterinarian’s help in identifying samples collected from skin and bedding.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: A bite from a bird mite often produces intense itching. Other symptoms may include crawling sensations and sudden pricks. Bird mite bites look like pimples or red bumps surrounded by pinkish circles.
DISEASE TRANSMISSION: Red poultry mites (D. Gallinae) are suspected of passing Newcastle Disease to other birds, both in the wild and in caged environments. Red Poultry Mites can also transmit salmonella bacteria to people and equine encephalitis to horses.
Treatment Instructions
TREATMENT OF HOMES: Spray carpets, couches, bedding and bed frames with Dr. Ben’s Evictor, our indoor formula. This formula is specially formulated not to stain fabric. Pay special attention to cracks and crevices around baseboards and be sure to treat the seams where walls and ceilings meet. For chronic or advanced infestations, our cedar oil fog machine is highly recommended. Since fog settles on walls and ceilings, it can reach places that normally go untreated during typical spray procedures.
NO DIRECT TREATMENT OF BIRDS: This product is not meant for the direct treatment of birds. It’s meant for application to dogs and horses. Direct handling of birds is risky. The handler may become infested. Your veterinarian may prescribe special drops that will help you treat your chickens with minimal handling. Please consult a veterinarian for advice on treating chickens directly. Wear plastic gloves whenever it becomes necessary to handle infested birds or chickens. Spray your clothing and shoes with Dr. Ben’s Evictor before entering chicken coops. It’s a good idea to change into clean clothing before entering your house again, as bird mites can hitch a ride on your pants, sleeves and shoes. Once a home is infested, the situation can become chronic. We’ve spoken to many callers who have battled bird mite infestations in the home for years.
TREATMENT OF HUMANS: Spray Dr. Ben’s Evictor or Dr. Ben’s Paws and Claws formula directly onto your skin, avoiding the face and eyes. Allow the treatment to remain on your skin until your next shower. Repeat throughout the day if you plan to handle pet birds or chickens. If necessary, a generous amount may be applied to the hair and scalp. For cases where the scalp feels infested around the clock, place a shower cap over saturated hair and leave in place for an hour.