Red Mite In Chickens

Keeping chickens on the smallholding is an absolute must. They are fantastic at keeping down bugs and pests in the vegetable patch and orchard, producing eggs, and being delightful to watch. However, like all poultry keepers, I am always alert to the possibility of red mites.

Poultry red mites are external parasites that affect chickens. An infestation is enough to turn every poultry keeper’s blood cold. If not dealt with immediately, red mites can profoundly affect the health of your chickens.

Luckily, preventative action is possible, and even if it doesn’t completely avert an infestation, it will help keep one under control.

Firstly, you need to know how to spot red mites. Wild birds can spread red mites, so you must be extra vigilant when introducing new stock or purchasing second-hand coops.

There are several ways to spot an infestation of red mites:

Red mites can be seen by the naked eye. You might see them crawling on eggs or in the crevices of the nest box.
Chickens may appear to be stressed and can act aggressively towards each other.
Chickens will engage in increased preening and head-scratching and may even damage their own feathers when doing so.
They may be reluctant to go inside to roost at night as this is when the mites attack the chickens. Red mites hide in the coop during the day and then feed off the chicken after nightfall.
Using double-sided sticky tape in the corners and crevices of the coop may also reveal red mites, as they will be trapped on the tape.

If you detect red mites, it is paramount that you act immediately. Red mites breed quickly, especially when the weather is warm, and eradicating them completely is not always possible. However, the sooner you identify the problem and get to work on getting rid of the mites, the better. The most effective way of eradicating red mites is by cleaning. I cannot stress how important this is. You must completely empty all bedding from the hen house. Remove all detachable coop parts, such as the perch, and unscrew all doors, flaps, etc., to get in as many crevices and corners as possible.

Treat the entire hen house, including the detachable parts, with a shop-bought red mite spray and allow the treatment to soak into the hen house. Finally, scrub the house thoroughly using a power wash if possible, ensuring you get into the corners and crevices. Leave the hen house to dry and then check thoroughly. If you can still see red mites, then repeat the whole process. Once you are sure you have eradicated the red mites and the hen house is dry, you can use Diatomaceous Earth to dust the interior of the hen house. This is a non-toxic powder that will help to kill any remaining red mites. Diatomaceous Earth is also good to add to the chicken’s dust bath as it will eradicate any mites on the birds.

Routine cleaning will avoid the build-up of dust and dirt that inevitably finds its way into the corners of the hen house where red mites love to hide. Ensuring all new birds are quarantined before introducing them to your existing flock will also minimise the spread of an infestation. Another way of preventing red mites is by painting the coop's interior. Paint will help to reduce the hiding places of red mites as the paint will seep into the cracks and crevices they like to lurk in. Painting in a light colour will help you identify any mites and make cleaning and disinfecting much easier.

You can find Allison on Instagram countryliving_writer or visit her website here