Poultry producers are facing a particularly high risk of red mite infestation this spring, with warm weather and the need to house birds causing outbreaks across the country.

The forced housing of birds due to avian influenza, combined with the warm weather, favours the red mite's life cycle.

Red mite can be debilitating to hens and irritating to egg collectors, as well as causing economic loss through egg downgrades and increasing the risk of disease transfer.

Now a new non-toxic product has been released to provide effective relief from red mite.

Dergall is an innovative new treatment which has been six years in the making, it works by mechanical means rather tan systemically, so unlike many insecticides it is safe to poultry and humans, and does not cause resistance in the red mite population.

Used at just one per cent, one litre of Dergall dilutes into 100 litres of solution to spray, and can even be safely sprayed directly onto the birds.

Alison Colville-Hyde, field services manager at St David's Poultry team, said: "The worry of avian influenza is at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now – but with free-range birds having to be housed as a result, the reality is that red mite populations are exploding.

"Fortunately, we now have a new product with which to treat red mite in one quick, easy, and safe way.

"When mixed with water and sprayed onto the inside of the poultry house, Dergall creates a unique three-dimensional molecular structure which is air permeable.

“This structure immobilises the mites and blocks their spiracles, through which they breathe. This action results in destruction of the mite eggs, nymphs and adult red mites.

“Mite infestations can cause huge stress on the birds: Initially you may not realise the mites are present, but as their population develops the hens become agitated, often hardly resting during the night, which is an important time for them to relax and recharge ready for the next day’s feeding and egg laying.

“Red mites can carry disease from one flock to the next and in heavy infestations they suck so much blood from the bird they can cause anaemia and eventually death.

"Egg production can dip and red streaks on the eggs, caused by the mites, may be seen too.”