External parasites are nearly impossible to avoid when raising a backyard flock. You can help keep your flock free of parasites as long as you check their health often and take precautions. One of the most common external parasites to affect chickens are mites. To keep your backyard flock healthy and free of mites, you should know how to spot, treat, and keep chicken mites away.
Chicken mites are a common external parasite that can plague backyard flocks These tiny, nearly invisible bugs feast on your chickens’ blood, causing irritation, discomfort, and even anaemia if left unchecked. While mites are never fun to deal with, the good news is that with the right approach, you can eliminate them from your coop and birds safely and effectively.
This article will tell you everything you need to know to get rid of chicken mites for good, such as:
What Are Chicken Mites?
Chicken mites are tiny parasitic bugs in the arachnid family. There are several species of mites that feed on birds, but the most common one is
- Northern fowl mites – most prevalent in cooler climates. They live on the chicken’s body.
- Red mites – more common in warm, humid areas. They hide in coops and come out to feed at night.
- Scaly leg mites – burrow under scales on chickens’ legs and feet.
Mites are transmitted bird-to-bird through direct contact. They can also be carried in by wild birds or rodents. An infestation spreads rapidly once established.
Recognizing a Mite Infestation
Detecting mites early allows quicker, more effective treatment. Signs of an infestation include:
- Excessive preening and feather loss
- Anemia – pale combs and wattles
- Irritated skin and visible mites around vents and under wings
- Decreased egg production and appetite
- Mite spots in nesting boxes
Inspect birds closely, especially in warm seasons when mites thrive. Check vents, under wings, and legs. Look for small crawling bugs or raised scales if scaly leg mites are suspected.
Killing and Preventing Chicken Mites
Once an infestation is confirmed, prompt treatment of coop and birds is key. Integrated pest management using natural deterrents alongside targeted medication works best.
Medication Options
- Ivermectin – Controls Northern fowl mites. Give orally, repeat in 10 days.
- Permethrin – For red mites. Apply to birds, coop, and dust baths.
- Poultry Protector – Natural product for dust baths to repel external parasites.
Always follow label directions carefully. Rotate treatments periodically to prevent resistance.
Natural Deterrents
- Herbs – Lavender, mint, garlic in nesting boxes deter mites.
- Diatomaceous earth – Dust bath additive that kills mites through desiccation.
- Neem oil – Repels and kills mites when sprayed on coop and birds.
- Garlic – Fed to chickens or added to water, repels mites.
Use natural options preventatively and in conjunction with medications as needed for heavy infestations.
Coop Treatment
Eliminating mites from the coop itself is crucial. Steps include:
- Remove all litter and bedding, discard off-site.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect coop and all equipment.
- Spray coop down with neem oil or poultry-safe disinfectant.
- Allow coop to fully dry before re-bedding.
- Dust coop with diatomaceous earth before allowing chickens back in.
Starving mites of hosts and hiding places in the coop will prevent re-infestation.
Ongoing Prevention
Prevention is key to avoid dealing with heavy mite infestations:
- Quarantine and treat new birds before introducing to flock
- Discourage wild birds and rodents from entering coop
- Provide frequent dust bathing opportunities
- Use herbs and natural deterrents regularly in coop
- Check for mites during routine flock health checks
With vigilance and integrated pest control methods, chicken mites can be effectively eliminated from your flock and coop. Consistent prevention will keep these pesky parasites from returning!
Can Humans Get Chicken Mites?
Even though they can bite people, chicken mites can’t live or reproduce on people. Mite bites may cause minor irritation or itching. To avoid coming into contact with infected chickens or cleaning an infected coop, wear protective clothing and gloves.
The Bottom Line
Chicken mites are a common challenge for backyard poultry keepers. But through close inspection, prompt treatment, and ongoing prevention, you can protect your flock from mite infestations. Natural remedies combined with targeted medication and rigorous coop disinfection provides the best chance of eradicating mites for good. With a proactive pest management approach, your chickens can continue thriving – mite-free!
What Do Chicken Mites Look Like?
Chicken mites are extremely small bugs, or external parasites, that can live both on and off their host. The general shape and color of these small parasites varies depending on the species of parasite. The best way to identify different species of external parasite is by the shape, color, or number of legs the parasite has.
Here are three common mites that can affect chickens and what they look like:
- Northern fowl mites are dark, but can be pale if they are young or haven’t eaten in a while. They have eight legs and are so small that you can hardly see them.
- Red mites are oval, bright red, especially after feeding, and have eight legs.
- Scaly leg mites are a type of burrowing mite that can’t be seen with the naked eye but can be easily identified by their signs and symptoms.
Another external parasite that can live on chickens is lice. Lice are larger than mites. They only have six legs, are longer in shape, and are often pale in color.
Mites spread to chickens through direct contact. Chickens can get mites from new birds being added to the flock who have external parasites. They can also get external parasites from wild birds, which can be a concern for free-range flocks or if wild birds have access to your flock’s feed or enclosure. Once one chicken has external parasites, the parasites spread quickly to the whole flock.
Mites can live for up to three weeks without a host. They can get into coops and other equipment through cracks and crevices and stay there until they can find a host (a chicken).
How to Apply Mite Sprays
Chicken mite treatment sprays should be applied directly to the chicken’s skin. You will want to pay special attention to areas where the mites like to congregate, such as around the vent, under the wings, and in the head feathers of crested chicken breeds.
Applying a chicken mite treatment spray is usually a two-person job. One person will need to securely hold the chicken while the other person applies the spray. If you want to hold a chicken safely while applying the spray, hold both of its legs gently with one hand and hold it steady in the palm of your other hand. Then flip the bird so that its back is against your chest. Once in an inverted position, you can gently tilt the bird so that its rear is facing outward and easy for the other person to access and apply the mite treatment. Treat areas such as the head and under the wings by holding the bird gently against your body while securing its legs with one hand and its wings with your other hand.
The person who is applying the mite treatment spray will need to gently part the feathers so that the spray gets directly on the chicken’s skin. When applying the spray to the head region of a chicken, be careful not to get the spray in the chicken’s eyes, nostrils, or ears. The same method of application can be used when treating chickens with diatomaceous earth powder as well.
For spray solutions that have to be diluted, such as garlic juice or Spinosad, frequently shake the bottle as you treat each bird in your flock. Shaking the bottle will ensure the solution is thoroughly mixed and that the solution doesn’t separate. Spray each area that needs to be treated very thoroughly, but don’t soak the chicken. The chicken’s skin should look wet, but its feathers should be mostly dry. You will need to treat all the chickens in your flock even if you don’t see live parasites on every bird.
Since chicken mites can only live in certain places for a short time, you will also need to treat the chicken coop and enclosure. If the coop and enclosure are not treated, the live parasites can crawl back onto the birds and cause a re-infestation. Get rid of as much litter as you can and take away your birds’ food and water to clean the coop and outside area.
Apply the chosen mite treatment liberally within the coop and enclosure. If the treatment was a spray treatment, allow the coop to dry before putting fresh litter back down and putting your flock’s food and water back into the coop. If you are using a Spinosad treatment, you only need to remove the feed and water from the coop. You can treat the litter right along with the rest of the coop.
For all chicken mite treatments except Spinosad, you will need to retreat your flock within 5-7 days to kill off any mites that hatch from the egg masses. Sometimes you may need to re-treat your flock two or three more times after the initial treatment to kill off any mites that hatch out. It’s always a good idea to keep checking for chicken mites for two to three weeks after treating your flock so you can catch any nit hatches before they become an infestation again.
Get Rid of Chicken LICE and MITES the BEST Way with ONE TREATMENT! Elector PSP
FAQ
What is the fastest way to get rid of mites on chickens?
Diatomaceous Earth: The exoskeletons of diatoms cut through external parasites and dry them out, which can be a good way to get rid of live chicken mites. May 4, 2023.
What kills mites instantly?
Steam cleaning or washing items in hot water is a surefire way to kill and eliminate mites of all types. Use a steam cleaner to heat treat your carpeting, furniture, and bedding. Wash the bedspreads, clothing, and other fabrics in hot water and dry clean them at a high temperature.
Does Dawn dish soap kill poultry mites?
If you’re willing to give your hens a real bath, Dawn dish soap can kill the mites on them. Only bathe your hens during warm weather though.