squirrels and mites

[Ballerina Bird]

OK, I have been bugging everyone with a million crazy questions about mites lately, but this one might win the prize.

Can squirrels transmit mites to chickens? Or are bird mites their own category and unrelated to what a squirrel carries?

I ask because, sigh, I seem to have an over friendly squirrel. I just caught him dozing on the roof my chicken run. Not trying to get into the feed, not trying to eat eggs, not doing anything, just seeming to want to hang out with my ladies. Could he be introducing mites into my chickens' environment?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I believe mites are species specific, I think chickens can get them from wild birds though, I think the squirrel has found an easy food supply and is guarding it from other squirrels.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

I believe mites are species specific, I think chickens can get them from wild birds though, I think the squirrel has found an easy food supply and is guarding it from other squirrels.

He can't actually get into the run, so I don't think he has any access to the feed. There is a tree right over the run that seems to be producing seeds that he eats, so maybe that is what he's guarding. Thanks for the info -- good to know that he is not passing critters along.

 

[MeepBeep]

Many mites and other parasitic bugs are generally specific to particular animal species, but some do cross species lines ** and others will and can take a ride and sample a taste on other species temporarily even if they can't live on that species...

** Read this article, it talks about the northern fowl mite infesting rodents as well as birds...

http://www.birdmites.org/mites.html

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Many mites and other parasitic bugs are generally specific to particular animal species, but some do cross species lines ** and others will and can take a ride and sample a taste on other species temporarily even if they can't live on that species...

** Read this article, it talks about the northern fowl mite infesting rodents as well as birds...

http://www.birdmites.org/mites.html

Thank you for the article!