Bird mites are a common type of parasites that infest birds externally. By definition, a parasite is an organism that lives on another organism; often the parasite benefits while the host organism suffers in some way. A few common types of bird mites can include feather mites, red or gray mites, and cere or knemidocoptic mites. Feather mites damage the bird’s feathers by attacking the feather shafts. Some signs of feather mites include broken or damaged feathers and excessive picking at the feathers. Often, the damage is very minor at first, so feather mites can be hard to detect. Early damage can include tiny pinhole-sized holes in the feather shafts that are often best detected by holding the feather up to a light. Red and gray mites feed on the skin of the bird, and are usually most active at night. This means that night time is when you are most likely to see behaviors like excessive scratching. During the day, though, you may notice signs of these bird parasites that include bare patches or red, inflamed skin. Red and gray mites tend to attack the head and the vent areas of birds, more than the bodies. Cere and knemidocoptic mites are bird mites that affect budgies more often than other birds, and burrow into the fleshy past above the bird’s beak (the cere). Other affected areas can include the eyelids, legs, feet, and other areas of the face and beak. Knemidocoptic mites are also often called “scaly leg and face mites,” because of the crusty, scaly legions they cause on non-fethered parts of infected birds. Keeping your bird and her cage clean are important steps to preventing bird mite infestation. Before introducing a new bird to your existing cage, always make sure the new bird has been completely tested and found to be free of mites and other parasites. Most bird mites are spread through contact with an infected bird, so screening all new birds carefully will save you a great deal of time and trouble dealing with the potential problem of bird mites later. If you find that your bird has been infested with mites, proper treatment is important. Proper diagnosis of bird mites should be performed by an avian veterinarian. Bird mites, and other external parasites, are normally dealt with by applying topical treatments like powders or sprays. It is also critical to clean and disinfect all cages, food and water bowls, toys, perches and other items, to prevent re-infestation.
