Eliminating Bird Mites to Protect Your Birds Health

Parasitic bird mites cannot only wreak havoc on your bird, but on your home as well. Humans are susceptible to bird mites just as our avian friends are. Once mites invade your home or property, the mites can quickly infest carpeting, furniture and clothing. To reduce the chance of a mite infestation or to kill bird mites once they have invaded, there are simple things you can do to protect yourself and your bird.

Bird Mite Invasion

No matter how clean your house and your bird cage is, bird mites can infest anywhere. In the late spring or early summer, bird mites begin to leave the comfort of their birds' nest and find other places to live and reproduce. Bird mites can easily be brought into your home on shoes, clothing, skin, and other things that have come into contact with the mites. Once the mites enter your home, and infestation can quickly occur. To eliminate bird mites, it's important to take preventative steps to reduce the chances of these pests entering the home.

Preventative Steps

The best preventative step you can take to eliminate bird mites from entering your house is to take care of any vacant bird nests you find on your property. Bird nests are often found in trees, eves of the roof, and gutters. Once late spring rolls around, look for vacant nests and remove them as soon as possible.

To safely remove a nest, wear protective clothing and gloves. Place the vacant nest in a garbage bag and seal it tightly. Afterwards, place the gloves in a separate garbage bag and seal it tightly. Next, wash your clothes well and take a thorough shower. This will reduce the chance of mites being spread in the house.

Trim any tree branches that are in close proximity to the house. Mites can easily transfer from tree branches to a house and then make their way in. Clean gutters, eves, and siding often to kill bird mites and keep them out of your home.

Bird Mite Infestations

If bird mites do enter the home, they can quickly get out of control. Severe cases of mites must require the house to be tented and fumigated. To try and prevent this extensive invasion, a very thorough cleaning must be conducted. This include cleaning not only the walls, but the ceiling and fans as well. All furniture, carpets, and clothing must be washed as well as bedding. A once over will not do. The cleaning must be repeated every couple days for at least two weeks to effectively kill bird mites. You can even use a dusting powder to kill the mites just make sure the area is well ventilated and the powder is cleaned up completely.

It's very important to take the preventative steps needed to reduce the chance of a mite infestation. Bird mites aren't only harmful to your birds health but your health and your family's health as well. Eliminating bird mites can be done using the correct preventative steps.

References:

"Bird Mite Infestation Tips and Strategies" www.birdmites.org

"Mites" www.avianweb.com

"Treating Bird Mites" www.orkin.com