The effectiveness of polyvinyl chloride plastic bands impregnated with permethrin as a control for the northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), infesting caged laying chickens.

Caged White Leghorn hens were used to study the effectiveness of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bands impregnated with 10% permethrin (50 mg/active ingredient/band) for control of the northern fowl mite (NFM), Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago). The PVC bands were attached two ways, either to the leg of the bird or to the cage floor. Leg band treatments included one, two, three, four, and six birds banded (one band per bird) per cage of six birds. Cage band treatments included one, two, and four PVC strips attached to the cage floor. The attachment of PVC bands to cages was very effective in controlling NFM. Birds in the treatment with four bands attached to the cage floor were essentially mite free for the duration of the 19-week test. Based on this test, the leg banding technique does not seem to be as effective or practical for controlling NFM on caged layers as is attachment of the bands to the cage floor. The use of permethrin-impregnated PVC bands or strips attached to the floor of poultry cages shows promise for effective NFM control and for relieving stress on birds resulting from conventional spraying or dusting treatments.