Red mite/white mite

[Sue]

Can anyone tell me whether red mite start off life as white mite? A colleague of mine said she had a problem with her hens when she went to collect the eggs she had loads of white mites crawling up her hand. Just wondered what these would be so I can give her some advice.

 

[Marigold]

They start off white or grey and go red when engorged with blood - either belonging to hens or to your friend.

 

[E3lx]

yep, marigold said it all, they hatch grey, then turn red when they feed (on chicken or human blood) yum! (for the mite anyway!!!)

 

[dorinda]

She might have seen lice - they are white as well - they are bigger than red mite and much easier to see