Scaly Face Mite (or Burrowing Mites) are most common in budgerigars, but many bird species are susceptible. The mite burrows in, feeding on keratin. They leave characteristic honeycomb lesions as they burrow deeper into the tissue around the cere. Eventually, they make their way down the beak, affecting not only the beak but the cere and the eyelids. They also attack the legs and feet of the bird. In really severe cases, the bird’s vent can be infested. The damage it causes to the tissue can be extremely painful. If left untreated these burrowing mites will cause severe deformities of the beak, to the point that eating and drinking become very difficult and birds can actually starve to death.
Burrowing mites are harmless to humans, so there is no risk of an infection to us, however the mites are highly contagious to birds and any infection must be contained! You can only do this by treating all the birds in your aviary. Scatt is a highly effective treatment against Scaly Face Mite and air sac mite and is simple to administer. These mites only live on the body, so it is not necessary to treat the cage with a mite spray.