Bird mite control in Roodepoort: roofs, eaves and bedrooms

Bird mite control in Roodepoort means dealing with the nest as well as the mites. We find and remove the old bird nests in the roof or eaves, treat the roof space, and treat the rooms where mites have come through. Then we bird-proof the gaps so pigeons, mynas and sparrows can't nest there again and restart the cycle.

What bird mites are, and why they bite

Bird mites are tiny, barely visible mites that live in birds' nests and feed on the birds' blood. While the chicks are in the nest, the mites stay put. When the chicks fledge or the nest is abandoned, the mites lose their food source and start wandering, often through ceiling gaps, light fittings, cornices and air vents into the rooms below. They bite people looking for a meal, which causes itchy red marks, but they can't survive and breed on humans for long.

Why Roodepoort roofs get them

Many Roodepoort homes have tiled roofs with gaps under the tiles, open eaves, loose fascia boards and spaces around geysers, solar panels and air conditioning units. Pigeons, Indian mynas and sparrows find these perfect for nesting, especially in spring and summer. Older family homes in areas like Florida, with tiled roofs that have shifted over the years, see this often. When a nest is right above a bedroom ceiling, the bites start at night.

Signs of bird mites

• Tiny moving specks, pale or reddish, on walls, ceilings, windowsills or bedding
• Itchy bites, often on arms, neck and upper body, that started suddenly
• Birds nesting in the roof, under the tiles or in the eaves, especially if chicks recently left
• Mites concentrated near a light fitting, air vent or ceiling crack
• Bites in one room more than others

Bites can come from bed bugs, fleas or mosquitoes too. If there's no bird activity and the bites are in a line, our page on bed bug treatment in Roodepoort may help.

How we treat bird mites

1. Find the nest. We inspect the roof space, eaves, gutters and fascias above the affected rooms, and find the nests and the birds' entry points.
2. Remove the nest. Old nest material is removed and bagged, carefully, so mites aren't spread further.
3. Treat the roof space. We treat the nest area and the surrounding roof space with a registered product.
4. Treat the rooms. Rooms where mites have come through are treated along ceilings, cornices, light fittings, skirting boards and around the bed.
5. Bird proofing. We close the gaps with bird spikes, netting or sealing so birds can't nest there again.

You don't need to move out. Children and pets can use the rooms again once the treated surfaces are dry. Wash bedding on a hot cycle after treatment.

The common mistake

Removing the nest without treating, or treating without removing the nest. Pulling out a nest scatters thousands of hungry mites through the roof and into the house. Treating the house without removing the nest leaves a reservoir of mites in the roof. And without bird proofing, the birds come back next season and it starts again.

A Roodepoort tip

Look at your roof from the garden in spring. Pigeons or mynas flying in and out from under the same tile or at the same corner of the eaves are a warning sign. Having the gap sealed before they nest, ideally in winter or early spring, prevents both the mess and the mites.

Complexes, schools and offices

Bird mites aren't only a house problem. In townhouse complexes, pigeons often nest above shared carports and in the roof spaces of end units, and offices and schools with flat roofs, ledges and air conditioning units attract them too. We can inspect the whole site, deal with every active nest and recommend proofing for the worst spots, which saves the body corporate or facilities manager from repeat call-outs every spring. Where bites are reported in several units at once, we start with the roof spaces above them, because that's nearly always where the source is.

Bird proofing as a long-term fix

For many Roodepoort homes, bird proofing is the real solution. Pigeons and mynas also leave droppings on solar panels and gutters, block downpipes and carry other parasites. Our bird proofing service in Johannesburg explains the spikes, netting and sealing options we use for roofs, solar panels and ledges.

What bird mite treatment costs, and why

The price depends on how many nests there are, how easy the roof space is to reach, how many rooms need treating, and how much bird proofing is needed afterwards. A single nest above one bedroom is a much smaller job than a whole roof with several pigeon nests. There's a guide "from" price on this page, and our Johannesburg pest control costs page has the others.

Nearby

Homeowners around the lake can see our Florida pest control page. Over the ridge we also treat bird mites in Northcliff, and the main page on bird mite control in Johannesburg covers the rest. For other Roodepoort pests, see pest control in Roodepoort.

If the bites started after the birds left the roof, call us before you pull the nest out. Combat Pest Control is owned and operated by Jason van Heerden, who has 25 years of experience, and we're SAPCA registered with Department of Agriculture registration under Act 36 of 1947. Expect service within 24 hours and a 3-month guarantee. Ring 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp a photo of the mites or the nest.