Pigeon Mites Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

As you spend more time learning about pigeons, their behaviors, and how lovable they can be, you often have to face the gruesome parts. Whether you’re a veterinarian, a pet owner, or a genuine dove gazer, as you deal with pigeon droppings, you’ll be surprised to know that those aren’t the only distasteful bits about them.

Bird mites are prevalent in pigeons. They’re so petite that you wouldn’t even get to comprehend their nuisance unless you know their nature. These tiny devils can create havoc by forming skin diseases in birds and sneaking into homes and humans. Eww!

So, if you’re finally ready to know all about these hell breakers, you’re in the right place. Here’s what you need to know about pigeon mites’ symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

You may also want to read about the best pigeon feed.

What are Pigeon Mites?

Pigeon mites are usually found where pigeons and theirs nests are located. However, as the birds leave their nests at one point or another, these parasites look for their blood feasts elsewhere. As their next best option, after the pigeons abandon their nests are humans; that’s what they search for afterward. If humans get bitten by pigeon mites, it can cause them severe skin irritations.

Generally, pigeon mites are a common issue in warmer regions like Australia. However, a few subspecies of bird mites can affect the human body, such as the Ornithonyssus Bursa or the Starling mite from the Macronyssidae family.

How do Pigeon Mites survive?

Any bird mite is bound to survive on feeding upon the blood of birds. Therefore, their home and survival thrive in the bird’s nesting. Unfortunately, bird mites can multiply rapidly if they get proper food and nesting conditions. However, during a lack of bird hosts, these parasites can die within the span of three weeks.

Where can you find Pigeon Mites?

Bird or pigeon mites can be found in humid and moist conditions. However, as mites flourish during hotter seasons, they live off an uninterrupted life during early summer and spring.

These mites might originate in poultry farms, sparrows, starlings, and pigeons’ nests. But how they gradually move up to humans is another story. As young birds fly off to the world, leaving their warm nests, the mites are neglected too.

As they become frantic for food and better sustainability, they move onto humans to feed on them. As a result, you can find mites in beddings, ceilings, walls, and other parts of the house as they search for their next meal and a suitable host.

What do Pigeon Mites look like?

Now that we know the heights of the vexation that these tiny monsters can eject, you must wonder what they look like or how to identify them. But, don’t worry; we’re here to fill you in on that too.

Bird or pigeon mites have eight legs and measure up to less than 1mm in length. Needless to say, they’re tiny and can often defeat the human eyes with their extreme mobile nature. But what adds up to this race is their semi-translucent color.

When you combine their complexion and ruthless speed, it’s almost a lost cause. However, their colors only remain on a semi-translucent base until they have digested blood. Once they do, their complexion turns blackish or reddish.

They have an oval shape, overall, with microscopic hair covering a tiny area.

Identifying and locating the Pigeon Mites:

Now that we know how bird mites look like, it could be easier to locate them. But, sometimes not even then. Proper identification is critical to determine the stage of infestation and how to control them. One of the most effective ways of controlling them is to locate and efficiently removing the source, which is the bird’s nest.

However, pigeons and all other birds build their nests in manners that will trick the human eyes. So, if your pigeons are free birds, here are a few tips on where you might find the bird’s nest – if you’re lucky.

• Window ledges. 
• Basements and foundations.
• Cavities within the walls. 
• In the chimney or around the eaves.

Pigeon Mites Symptoms

Let’s take a gander at some of the pigeon mite symptoms that you might be facing if your foe has taken up you or someone you know as a host. Pigeon mites can cause the following:

• Severe skin irritation.
• Raised red spots, which might itch and swell.
• Feeling extreme discomfort.

On the contrary, you must know a few more details related to the symptom’s nature and things to never worry about.

• Pigeon mites can frequently be challenging to diagnose, and more often than not, they are mistaken as a mosquito or insect bites.
• Pigeon mites can never be associated with the transmissions of other infectious diseases.
• If you scratch the bitten area vigorously, it might cause secondary infections.
• They do not prefer to bite humans in specific areas. Unfortunately, this means that you can be infected with any exposed body part.
• They do not live under the human skin.

Pigeon Mites Treatment

To eliminate bird mites, you can utilize insecticide for pigeon mites. These are approved insecticides that can come in the form of powders or sprays. You can also apply insect repellant to yourself. However, make sure that the repeller consists of (DEET), diethyl meta-toluamide.

Similarly, anti-itching lotions and creams can also do wonders for your skin and irritations.

For minor skin irritations, you can opt for soothing soaps. Once you notice a prominent swelling or redness anywhere on your body, you can take a shower immediately. Then, proceed to wash your clothes and the current bedding with warm, soapy water.

Another effective form of medication is antihistamine creams, but specifically, those that contain hydrocortisone. They can minimize the redness and abolish itching. Oral antihistamines are a viable option, too, in case you’re facing severe itching and painful rashes.

Even if the bites present with mere redness, you should avoid itching and scratching them at all times. Ice treatments, oral or applied medications are the best choices to exterminate them harmlessly.

How to get rid of Pigeon Mites

Confirming the presence of bird mites is icky enough to get on board with the actions of preventing them. However, even before you get on with prevention modes, it’s necessary to treat yourself and the affected areas of your home.

Now that we’ve learned how to take care of ourselves if we get infected by pigeon mites, let’s take a gander at how to keep the house clean.

➣ Vacuum! Vacuum! Vacuum!

The strong sucking motion of the vacuums isn’t beatable by tiny mites. A thorough vacuuming session of your house’s furniture, curtains, rugs, and carpets will take half of your stress away regarding mites.

Pro tip: Don’t delay in throwing out the vacuum’s canister or bag immediately after you’re done. Afterward, rinse the plastic canister with soap and hot water so that any remaining pigeon mites are killed in the process.

Another alternate way of disposing of the remaining mites is to freeze the canister and then wash it. Don’t forget to wash all bed sheets and clothing that you suspect might be infested by mites. Remember to utilize high heating settings while washing and drying.

➣ Sterifab –

Sterifabs are a disinfectant insecticide approved by the EPA and can be used on upholstered furniture, carpets, and indoors. You can purchase a gallon or the famous ready-to-use 16-ounce of sterifab bottles.

Here’s how you can use it: You must dilute the solution before using it. Then, pour the diluted solution in a spray bottle and apply even coatings to any indoor area that you suspect has pigeon mites.

For more apparent on-hand experience, read the instructions and labels carefully. You can use sterifab on mattresses, chairs, couches, furniture, and carpets.

➣ Treat Outdoors –

As you reclaim the indoors, don’t forget to do the same for your outdoors too. You can acquire professional help for this part of the journey of discarding mites. The Reclaim IT insecticides are the most excellent and reliable option to get this job done.

These can sneak into the concrete barriers, structures, and foundations to kill, prevent and repel current and future possibilities of mites. The insecticide works consistently for up to 90 days after application. If you’re willing to take on this challenge of cleaning your outdoor property, we assure you that it’s possible. Let’s give you an insight into its usage.

Before using, ensure these steps: Mix an ounce of Reclaim IT with one gallon of water to dilute it. With the pump sprayer, you can treat around a thousand square feet. Next, do a perimeter treatment around your home. Keep spraying in this manner until the entire property has been covered.

Ensure that you spray around each crevice, cracks, rain gutters, soffits, eaves, door, and window frames adequately. Most importantly, don’t forget to cover the spots where you’ve found the bird’s nest. Caution: Don’t let pets, children, or adults around these sprayed areas for at least 2-4 hours after application.

Prevention of Pigeon Mites

All things considered, I think we all agree that minimizing the possibilities and the current number of bird mites is the best plausible action by homeowners. Indeed, preventing their presence is far better than having to go through the ordeal of treating yourself with medicines and house treatments. Imagine the bucks that this will save!

Before you yelp for help at the sight of these blunder-creators, let us advise you on a few simple techniques that will eradicate any chances of you meeting this unexpected guest.

➣ Getting rid of other bearers –

Right after you’re done cleaning all the rooms and outdoors meticulously, you might inspect your house for evidence of rodents. Unfortunately, both rats and rodents can transmit pigeon mites at a higher rate all over the place. Imagine all your hard work going in vain because a few mice had been naughty. Not our cup of tea, is it?

➣ Heat Treatments –

Heat treatments are fantastic for targeting specific rooms and getting rid of mites or minimizing their chances of survival one treatment cycle at a time. Good news: this method works great for bed bugs as well. You can hire professional exterminators to get this job done seamlessly.

➣ Control Moisture –

As we already know, pigeon mites love to thrive in damp and humid conditions. Gross. However, there’s one way to eradicate it. Making them highly uncomfortable can either eliminate them or create an unwelcoming environment, and we love both notions.

So, if you lower the humid levels below 30%, you can achieve the best results. Utilize dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and ventilators regularly to get uninterrupted assistance.

➣ Remove the Nest –

If you think you can’t handle this one alone, by all means, hire a professional. However, it’s essential to comprehend that being vigilant is necessary during this process to make certain that the nest isn’t currently a humble abode to pigeons. By any means, nobody should have bad blood against them and act ruthlessly towards these harmless birds. Moreover, it’s against the law to tackle them without care.

For maximum protection, wear face masks, gloves, and other protective gear where you might get into contact with the nests. This will decrease the chances of transferring the pathogens. After removal, assure that your house is bird-proof and toss out any related debris.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Yes, we know, the entire ordeal sounds a bit grim. But hey, now that you know all the mysteries about pigeon mites’ symptoms, treatment, and prevention, identifying and rectifying the situation should be as easy as snapping your fingers.

It’s a given that pigeon mites are incredibly uncomfortable to deal with. Heck, with all the skin irritation, hurting, and itching, it could take you weeks to recover. Thus, to be one step ahead of these miniature rogues, maintain proper prevention clauses.

After all, nobody loves to get themselves or their beloved pets a trip to the doctors, right?