Tackling red mite in laying hens remains a challenge

Red mite can severely affect a layer operation. Birds become stressed and the impact on egg production and feed conversion is substantial. Despite good measures, tackling this parasite remains a big challenge. By Farhad Mozafar, Lohmann Tierzucht, Germany Compared to other poultry ectoparasites such as fowl ticks, lice and flies, mites are considered to be the most destructive ones. Particularly the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus Gallinae, also known as the Fowl Red Mite) has been id