[tode]

Hi,
We've had chickens,ducks and peacocks in the same run for about 20 years now, and have never seen any red mites, byt then have never looked for them 
After reading a few posts, I think it might be a good idea to check them out.
What do I look for?
Do they hide in the cracks? or are they present on the birds?
And just how big are they? (Eyesight isn't what it used to be ! )
Thanks for any advice

[Aunt Sally]

Oh tode, have you never visited out Poultry Information section 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=5250.0

[oddpaws]

Patches of red sort of blistery looking rust anywhere the hens roost, look for it in the mornings.
They hide in any crack or crevise where the birds roost as they feed on them at night.
They dont live on the birds and they really are very very tiny, much smaller than a fles. they are grey during the day or when they havent been feeding and are like tiny baby spiders. If you have been somwhere where red mite are you will feel tickly because they are attracted to your body heat and if you look very very carefully you will see this little tiny grey thing.....that is red mite. They really make me feel cooty as my husband will say.
Thats the basics but the link supplied by Aunt Sally gives much more info

[tode]

Thanks Auntie, thats v. good.
Stick can't work out how to find the page though (apart from clicking your link) 
I need another coffee maybe.

One other thing, I've sometimes seen tiny little black things round the peacocks eyes, but they run fast and hide in the feathers. Would that be some sort of flea? He sometimes shakes his head, as if they were tickling his "ears".

Any ideas? while I get myself a coffee 

[SMD66]

I couldn't see red mite in our shed till I sprayed where the perches were joined, then they came out in their dozens.  I even couldn't see them at night with a torch.
The pheasant must have some sort of louse, but I'm not an expert.  Chicken treatments must work on them though