The hygiene and health of birds depend on the humidity and pH !

The moisture and acidity favour the development of pests (lice, red - Dermanyssus gallinae).

It was the unanimous opinion of the farmers, the pou red (Dermanyssus gallinae) is now the external parasite the more harmful of the aviaries, dovecotes and poultry houses. Whether it's birds ornaments, small flocks of enthusiastic amateurs or farming professionals, hens, pheasants or quail, it is very rare not to have been contaminated by this parasite.

It is considered that 70 to 80 % of breeding farms and professionals of laying hens are affected more or less severely. The result is a greatly reduced egg-laying, and even death by exhaustion of hens in the most serious cases.

Unfortunately, no bird is ever completely immune to the head lice red. They may be introduced into the cage, the aviary or the chicken coop by a newcomer, by a new object, and even... by the breeder himself. The pou red may stay temporarily on the man and even on other mammals such as the rat or the dog ! However, it would appear that this parasite is rarely caused by wild birds (for example by a nest of sparrows or pigeons nearby), and because studies of the ITAVI (Sophie Lubac, one of the great specialists in France) have highlighted that the strains are different.

A formidable foe

The bird breeders enthusiasts (hens, pigeons, canaries, parakeets...) also meet very often with this parasite. And it is very difficult to get rid of it. The pou red is a mite of 0.5 mm to 1 mm long qualified ectoparasite intermittent, which means that it does not live permanently on its host and it does the "visit" to feed. Lice red shuttle up to 8 to 10 times per day between their refuge (any crevice possible, space between two plates, crack in the wood, the air gap between two plates, to an angle of the building, etc.) and his victim. They will remain as one to two hours on the bird to get their fill of blood, which will increase their color from gray to bright red and later to dark red almost black when the digestion is complete. The nuisance of head lice red don't stop there : it is now established that the bites transmit many diseases through the blood... and even when an aviary or a chicken coop hit by an epidemic emptied and cleaned, it is sufficient that head lice red emerge out of their hiding place after the introduction of new birds, for they are contaminated by the germs of birds which have gone before !

The pou red reproduces very quickly : a female can lay 100 to 200 eggs per week, and the complete cycle (egg to egg, then to its birth and up to adulthood reproductive health) may not exceed one week under conditions of temperature and moisture favorable. In addition to this, it is also exceptionally tough : if the temperature and the hygrometry (humidity) come to fall, or when the food runs out, the red louse can "hibernate" for up to 8 months without feeding. They are even able to survive by taking the protein needed in the droppings, feathers and dust.

The table is nearly complete : the enemy is formidable, it will have to arm themselves with courage and patience !

How to detect the presence of head lice red on your birds ?

• Your birds are shrinking and seem to be exhausted ?
• Mortality unusual touch to your brood ?
• The eggs have small red spots ?

Then, it is likely that your farm is infested.

But to be sure, do this simple test:

Hang a piece of paper towel or a cloth in white ball close to the birds... wait a few days and unfold. If there are parasites in your livestock, they will be installed in priority in the folds.

But nothing is lost... some of the rules of prevention can help avoid this scourge, and treat it where it is, unfortunately, afflicted. The following tips will help you make the point, and build your battle plan !

Controlling moisture and the pH of the poultry house, cage or aviary

A new concept: the powders of mineral Bi-Lice. Bicarbonate regulates the pH and the silica to trap the moisture.

Our mineral powders Bi-Lice® trap moisture and regulate the pH without harming the birds or breeders. They do not contain insecticides, neurotoxic. Their effectiveness is therefore constant in time.

They dry out the environment . Our tests performed in the laboratory clearly show... What are the mineral powders the most effective currently available. They have been the subject of several international patents.

Their effectiveness will depend on the quality of their application and the cleanliness of the media. Regardless of the treatment product, it is important to know that dust, feathers and droppings are the allies of parasites and bacteria... surfaces must therefore be the cleanest possible.