The term chigger is used to denote the larvae of the red tick mites belonging to the Trombicul family> 0.4 mm) the larvae emerging from the egg creep along the ground and rise up the stem and leaves of the plant, where they are located before contact with any vertebrate host animal, on the body of which they feed until the moment when they again fall to the ground, where their molting will begin. The place of attachment of the chiggers to the human body is the region of the ankles, but some larvae move along the skin until they are stopped by clothing that is tightly attached to the body. Then the larva pierces the skin, secrete digestive juices to thin the tissue cells and feeds them for 3-4 days. After a few hours, the secrets secreted by the chigger cause the development of a very itchy papule with a diameter of 0.5–2 cm. This papule usually turns into a vesicle, which looks like a lesion that develops with chickenpox. Sometimes subcutaneous bleeding leads to the appearance of a site of ecchymosis around the papule. Primary lesion and itching may continue for several weeks. In the USA, most clinical cases are observed in the summer months, in regions with a warm climate, seasonality is absent. The treatment is aimed at relieving itching and preventing secondary infection. Highly effective preventive agents are repellents.
Signs of the appearance of ticks in chickens
Ticks can be found in different places. Some of them live permanently on the body of birds, while others live in the chicken coop: during the day they hide under perches, in cracks on the walls and under the bedding, and at night they leave their shelters to feed themselves. Parasites bite the skin and suck blood. This can lead not only to discomfort, but also to feather loss, anemia, and in some cases even to death of birds.
If your chickens suddenly became reluctant to go into the chicken house in the evening, or stopped using the nesting places, this is a sure sign that they have ticks.
Chickens love to take dust baths on dry ground or sand. If you add a little wood ash or diatomaceous earth (it is sold in packages), this will be a good prevention of tick infection. However, often in very hot and humid areas, where the tick population is flourishing, or during prolonged rains, when chickens are not able to take dust baths, this method still does not help to escape from parasites.
Too frequent cleaning of plumage and plucking of feathers can be a sign of infection with parasites.
If your chickens have mites, you will probably notice that they began to clean their plumage more often and pluck feathers under the wings and around the anus. On closer inspection, you will be able to see tiny red or black spots near the anus, and when examining the chicken coop, you will find red blood streaks or black grains that are felt when you hold your hand on the surface.
Tick Control Methods
Several chemical solutions and tick control preparations are available on the market, but most of them have not been tested on chickens, so experienced owners do not advise immediately resorting to their use. It is better to try complex treatment with natural remedies first.
Spray the chicken coop and perches for several days in a row with a mixture of the following: 2 cups of water, 1 cup of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. This mixture will help destroy ticks. Before use, shake the product well, so it exfoliates. Processing the chicken coop should be carried out at least 1-2 times a week for several weeks in parallel with the treatment of chickens. This 100% natural homemade spray will help get rid of ticks in the chicken coop.
You can spray a layer of diatomaceous earth on the floor of the chicken coop and nesting places, as well as rub the mixture into the surface of the roosts. Repeat as necessary.
Wormwood (artemisia) is another effective natural means of combating ticks. Tie bunches of wormwood to perches, spread the sachets in the nesting places or hang cut plants throughout the chicken coop. This is an excellent tool that can constantly be used to repel ticks.
Garlic Juice in Combination with Vegetable Essential Oils - A Proven Mite Control Tool
To cure chickens, spray them with garlic juice spray. Poultry scientists from the UK have discovered that this tool can kill 100% of all ticks in 24 hours. It can be used to treat birds and as a prophylactic.
To make such a natural spray, you will need:
- 300 ml of water
- 30 ml garlic juice
- 1 teaspoon (total) of any combination of these essential oils - bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, lavender, mint and / or caraway seeds.
Mix all the ingredients in a bottle with a sprayer well and spray chickens with this agent twice a week for prophylaxis, or every other day for 2-3 weeks in case of infection with ticks. Pay particular attention to the areas around the anus and under the wings. After spraying, it is also recommended to treat the chickens with diatomaceous earth, rubbing the powder into the skin and plumage. In this case, be careful - try so that the dust does not get them (or you) in the eyes and lungs. The simultaneous treatment of chickens and the treatment of the chicken coop will help completely get rid of ticks.
If the chicken has ticks on its feet, then the scales will not be smooth, but raised up
Ticks on paws are another type of external parasite that hides under the scales, from which they rise.
If you notice such signs, spray chicken paws with a solution of garlic juice, and then grease them with natural petroleum jelly (or its analogues with natural additives). Such treatment will help not only scare off, but also destroy ticks - they will die from suffocation.
Iron-rich foods to help treat mites infected with ticks
When treating tick-infected chickens, it is recommended to increase iron intake in order to prevent anemia.
High iron foods include eggs, meat, fish, poultry, seafood, spinach, beet tops, dandelion greens, sweet potatoes, broccoli, kale, kale, strawberries, watermelon, raisins, wheat products, oatmeal, corn, molasses. The introduction of these products in the diet of chickens will contribute to a better recovery of weakened birds - when infected, not only the level of iron in the blood decreases, but also weakens the immune system. Adding a clove of fresh garlic to drinking water or garlic powder in the feed will be a good prevention of infection, as parasites do not like the taste of the blood of those birds in whose diet garlic is present. In addition, this useful product enhances the immunity of sick chickens during treatment.
Regular examination of chickens reveals signs of infection at an early stage.
The best prophylaxis for most disease-related problems is to frequently inspect and know what a healthy and sick animal should look like.
Regular, frequent and thorough inspection of chickens will allow you to detect and solve problems before they get out of control. With a careful study of the area under the wings and around the anus, parasites can be caught before they begin to multiply. Detecting the first signs of the disease and quick treatment will help to eliminate ticks before mass infection of birds begins. Zones for dust baths filled with dry soil or sand, diatomaceous earth and wood ash will also be a good prevention of tick infection for your chickens.
Ticks briefly
Ticks are arachnids. In Russian natural conditions, they are extremely common. Ticks can be found in meadows, forests, lakes and rivers, in city parks, as well as in the country. The danger of these parasites is that some of their species through the bite transmit to a person extremely serious diseases. In this article we will look at how you can protect a summer cottage from ticks, as well as how to deal with a parasite.
To conduct a profitable and high-quality fight against ticks in the garden area, we recommend that you contact only the company "Dezcentr-Rus".
Today it has almost 54 thousand species of ticks. As a rule, their sizes vary from 0.2 to 3 mm. Individual representatives are able to grow up to 5 mm. The body of the tick is both whole and divided into the belly and head. Move through the legs. In adult ticks, there are mainly four pairs of hind legs, and the larvae move through six legs.
Suckers and claws are placed on the tick's paws. The first two rows of claw-shaped appendages form the oral organs. They tick pierce the skin of the victim and feed. In the simplest species, these pairs of claws are free, but, as a rule, they grow together with the base and thus form a head that simply connects to the body. Most species have two pairs of eyes. Some representatives of the visual organs may not be.
The body of the parasites is covered with chitin. In male mites, it covers the entire body, in females - 1/3. Chitin may be hard, soft or leathery. Basically, the body of these insects has an oval shape, in some species from behind it can be sharpened, or, conversely, more rounded than in front. The color scheme of these insects is different: gray, brown, red and beige.
Why fight ticks
Many people think that all ticks are very dangerous and fall into a real panic only when they discover this arachnid creature on the grass, or on the skin.
In fact, many of the ticks that live in nature do not tolerate dangerous ailments.
Another popular myth is that the encephalitis virus is found exclusively in ticks. In fact, ticks are simply its carriers. The reservoir for the virus is wild and domestic animals. Suppose a tick bites an infected bird, a dangerous virus, once it enters its body, multiplies and accumulates easily. When a parasite attacks a person, the virus accumulated in the ovaries and salivary glands penetrates his blood. The tick itself does not experience any inconvenience from the presence of the virus and stores it in its own body for quite a long time. The appearance of the tick will not help to find out whether the tick is encephalitis or not, for this a laboratory examination is required.
It is important to note that the virus can be found both in the imago and in the nymphs and in the larvae.
Tick-borne encephalitis is found in raw cow and goat milk. A boiled product does not present any danger.
Having removed a tick from the head, many are sure that he jumped from a tree. However, ixodid ticks cannot rise above 50 cm above the ground. Clinging to a person, they easily creep up, choosing the most vulnerable and warmest part of the body, the tick can spend hours choosing the right place for a bite.
It is believed that a parasite bite is most likely when a person is dressed in white clothing. This myth was born from observations of specialists who collect ticks. They put a white rag on a stick and “cough” the whole territory. This method allows you to quickly see the pest. And the visual apparatus of the insect is primitive, the tick does not distinguish colors. He just sits on the grass, spreads his front pair of legs apart, and after that, everything that moves is enough.
To conduct a profitable and high-quality fight against ticks in the garden area, we recommend that you contact only the company "Dezcentr-Rus".
Ticks and Diseases
Ixodid ticks are carriers of many dangerous diseases. At the same time, one suction of an insect can immediately lead to a number of ailments, which can lead to complications and even death. In the video you can see the effects of tick-borne encephalitis.
The most dangerous disease is tick-borne encephalitis. The virus is very dangerous for the nervous system, complications affect the brain and spinal cord. Signs of flu-like encephalitis are similar to symptoms of a common cold - aching joints, weakness, and muscle pain. The meningial form is characterized by the same symptoms, although severe headaches and chills are felt. A timely visit to a doctor is necessary, in another case there is a great risk of remaining disabled (at best) or dying.
An equally dangerous ailment after a parasite bite is tick-borne borreliosis, or tick-borne lime. The incubation period of the disease lasts from a week to a month. Symptoms are similar to those described above, however, at the site of the bite, a red ring of a clear shape almost always occurs. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, but it is very difficult to cope with the advanced form of the disease. The consequences of the disease: rare and severe and forms of arthritis, dermatitis and arthrosis.
If a tick is bitten, the signs of illness of relapsing and rash tick-borne typhus are characterized by chills, fever up to 40 degrees, severe sweating and a feeling of overwhelming. With typhus, areas of necrosis of the skin are possible, and subsequently a rash. With relapsing fever, as a rule, a bright cherry-colored papule develops.
Ticks are carriers of the pyroplasmosis virus. For humans, it is not at all dangerous, but this virus can do much harm to pets. Pyroplasmosis in pets is manifested by diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite.
Professional tick control
Not the fact that self control of ixodid ticks will lead to a complete cleaning of the summer cottage. A much more promising method is to call professional specialists. They guarantee that by the arrival of the owners all the mites that were previously on the territory will be completely destroyed. The tool used will act very effectively over the next few days, which only secures a good result. It should be noted that one-time tick control on the site does not lead to long-term protection of the summer cottage. Over time, these pests will again penetrate the summer cottage from the side of neighbors, or located near forests. Therefore, professionals advise in the warm season to perform regular processing about once every eight weeks.
To conduct a profitable and high-quality fight against ticks in the garden area, we recommend that you contact only the company "Dezcentr-Rus".
How to protect a summer cottage from ticks
Mite control in the garden is to use a variety of folk and chemical products. Before you independently process the cottage area from ticks, it is necessary to determine the scale of the disaster. After all, various folk remedies can help only with a small population of parasites. If there are a lot of them and they are in the active phase, then only purchased chemicals can help in the fight against ticks on the site.
Purchased funds
When the question arises, how to deal with ticks on the site, many give preference to various purchased drugs. Their effectiveness against ticks has been proven by many tests.
All chemicals are dangerous. Use them only according to the instructions, not exceeding the described dosages. And in no case should you neglect personal protective equipment.
Now tick control at a summer cottage is to use chemicals based on:
- Insecticides.
- Acaricides.
- Insectoacaricides.
Insecticides are classified as pesticides. They begin to act immediately when a parasite enters the body.
Acaricides are a type of systemic insecticide. For the processing of suburban areas, these chemicals can act on other insects. When choosing a chemical of this group, it is necessary to pay attention to the main active ingredient indicated on the package. Various active ingredients fight various insects.
Insectoacaricides are reliable drugs in the fight against ticks. Their main advantage in comparison with preparations of other groups is that they do not accumulate at all in the earth and in the cells of living organisms. This group includes drugs Taran, Amidofos and Hexamide.
A chemical drug from ticks for processing a summer cottage can settle on various garden crops. Therefore, the harvest must be washed in plain warm water.
Sipaz super
This tick control chemical is produced in the Netherlands by Halmark Chemicals BV. The main active ingredient of the chemical is cypermethrin, the concentration of which in this preparation is 25%.
Biological control of ticks performed once per season. If necessary, it can be repeated after a month and a half.
The product is manufactured by the French company Bayer Environmental Science SA. The main active ingredient is fenthion. Release form - powder or granules. Safe tick treatment performed once a season, in early spring. If there is a need, the product can be used at any time, but not more often than once a month.
Somarovka insecticide
The release of this chemical for tick control is carried out by the Somarovo company in the city of Moscow. The main active ingredient is cypermethrin. Средство эффективно в течение шести недель, однако при хороших условиях, сохранении сухой погоды, оно может действовать в течение четырех месяцев.
Этот химикат для борьбы с клещами производит в Тюмени компания «Спецбиосервис». Главное действующее вещество — циперметрин, его концентрация в химикате составляет 25%. Обработка от клещей может выполняться раз в два месяца.
The chemical is produced in India. Manufacturer - Sulfur Mills Limited. The main active ingredient is alphacypermethrin. Its concentration is 5%. Available in the form of granules or powder. Tick treatment is performed once a season, immediately after the snow melts.
This drug belongs to tick control chemicals. It is produced by Alina Nova LLC in Moscow. The main active ingredient here is cypermethrin at a concentration of 25%.
The composition of Acoracid simultaneously includes two active substances fenthion, at a concentration of 40%, as well as cypermethrin, whose concentration is 10%. Tick treatment is performed once a season, at the beginning of spring.
To conduct a profitable and high-quality fight against ticks in the garden area, we recommend that you contact only the company "Dezcentr-Rus".
How to get rid of thrombiculide ticks
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Thrombiculid ticks are small red ticks whose bites can cause severe and painful itching. Read our article to find out how to get rid of these ticks before they bite you.
