Determining if your chickens have mites can be tricky, but it’s important to identify an infestation early so you can treat it right away. Mites are very small external parasites that live on the skin and feathers of chickens and feed on their blood. A heavy mite infestation can make chickens miserable and even threaten their health.
Here are some signs that may indicate your flock has mites and tips for checking more closely:
Changes in Behavior
Mites cause irritation, itching, and discomfort. Chickens with mites may show some behavioral changes as a result:
- Increased preening and scratching as they try to relieve skin irritation
- Decreased activity levels and listlessness as irritation takes energy away from normal behaviors
- Loss of appetite
- Lower egg production
- Restlessness, particularly at night when mites tend to move around more
- Anemia in severe infestations as mites feed on large amounts of blood
Pay attention if your normally active and energetic chickens start acting irritated, lethargic, or unwell. Mites could be the cause.
Changes in Appearance
Along with behavioral differences, you may notice some physical changes in chickens with mites:
- Loss of feathering from overpreening irritated skin
- Scabs or hot spots on the skin from mite bites
- Small white eggs around the base of feathers (these are mite eggs)
- A decline in comb/wattle color from anemia
- An accumulation of mite “debris” that looks like dandruff or scaly skin
Take a close look at your chickens’ skin and feathers regularly. Seeing any loss of feathers, scabs, or buildup could signal an infestation.
Catching Mites in the Act
To confirm that mites are indeed the problem, you’ll need to spot them in action. Mites are tiny – about the size of a pinhead – so this takes a watchful eye. Try these tips for spying on them:
- Watch chickens at dust bathing spots. Mites will get disturbed and start moving around on the skin.
- Do an evening check with a flashlight when mites are most active. Part the feathers gently to peek at the skin.
- Place a piece of black construction paper under roosting chickens at night. Mites will fall off onto the paper and be visible in the morning.
- Capture some mites by pressing transparent tape against affected areas, then examine it closely with a magnifying glass.
Seeing the mites themselves, though small, is the best way to know for sure if your flock is infested. Persistence and thorough checks will eventually reveal them.
Where to Look for Mites on Chickens
When searching your chickens for signs of mites, focus your attention on these common hot spots:
- Vent area – Skin around the vent is a favorite mite congregation area. Lift the feathers here gently to take a look.
- Under wings – Mites often gather in soft skin of the underwing area. Check carefully near wing pits.
- Back of neck – Extend the neck feathers to inspect the skin for mites or white eggs.
- Breast – Part the breast feathers and look for “mite trails” of debris or eggs along the skin.
- Perches – Mites can build up on perches where chickens roost. Wipe perches and look for black specks.
Do thorough checks of these common mite hot spots to identify an infestation. Seeing mites in multiple areas is a sure sign of a problem.
Types of Chicken Mites
There are several varieties of mites that can pester backyard chickens:
Northern Fowl Mites
- Most common external parasite in backyard flocks
- Live on the chicken year-round, multiply quickly in warm weather
- Too small to be seen easily – about 1/16 inch long
- Feed on blood, causing anemia in bad infestations
- Cause irritability, feather damage, weight loss, drop in egg production
Red Roost Mites
- Only feed on chickens while they roost at night
- Spend the day hiding in coop cracks and crevices
- Bites cause irritation, anemia, and can paralyze young birds
- Leave specks of red debris from their bites
Scaly Leg Mites
- Burrow under leg scales and feed on skin
- Cause irritated, crusty legs
- Affect older chickens most often
- Can lead to deformity and disability
Depluming Mites
- Colonize skin along the chicken’s back, vent, and neck
- Cause intense itching, feather pulling, and skin damage
- Most active at night
- Transmitted bird-to-bird by close contact
Knowing the different types of chicken mites, their symptoms, and locations can help identify what pest your flock may have.
Mite Prevention Tips
While mites are common in backyard flocks, there are some steps you can take to try and reduce mite infestations:
- Keep coops clean – mites thrive in dirt and manure. Regular cleaning and new litter can help control them.
- Remove perches and clean weekly to eliminate hiding spots.
- Encourage dust bathing – provides chickens an opportunity to disturb mites.
- Check new birds closely before introducing them to your flock to avoid bringing in mites.
- Consider preventive treatments such as mite and lice spray or dusts for added protection.
Being vigilant about coop sanitation and monitoring your chickens closely are the best defenses against a mite takeover.
Treating a Chicken Mite Infestation
If you’ve identified that your flock has a mite problem, taking quick action to treat them is important. Here are some common treatment options:
Insecticides
Specialized poultry insecticides are available that kill mites on contact. Some options include:
- Permethrin dusts – Apply directly onto chickens, coop, and nesting areas.
- Pyrethrin sprays – Spray chickens and coop thoroughly.
- Ivermectin – Apply “off-label” to affected skin of chickens.
Always follow label directions carefully when using insecticides. Be aware permethrin is toxic to cats. Most treatments will need to be reapplied every 7-10 days until mites are under control.
Coop Cleaning
Since mites hide and thrive in cracks and crevices, thoroughly cleaning the chicken coop can help eliminate infestations. Tips include:
- Remove all bedding and sanitize feeding equipment.
- Pressure wash or scrub the coop with soap.
- Discard old perches or heat treat them to kill mites.
- Keep chickens out of the coop for several days until it fully dries.
Starve out lingering mites by eliminating their hiding spots through vigorous coop cleaning methods.
Natural Oils
Some people report success driving mites away with natural oil sprays such as neem oil or food grade DE mineral oil. The oils likely smother mites on contact. Focus on spraying roosts, nest boxes, and affected skin.
While not as potent as insecticides, natural oil sprays could help as part of an integrated pest management plan.
Vinegar
The acidic nature of vinegar can help kill mites when used in these ways:
- Spray full-strength white vinegar directly onto mite-infested areas of skin.
- Wipe wooden perches and nests down with undiluted vinegar weekly.
- Add apple cider vinegar to water for chickens to drink – may make blood less palatable to mites.
Routinely using vinegar provides an all-natural form of mite control with items already at home.
Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a very fine powder that can abrade the waxy outer coating of mites. Using DE for chickens involves:
- Rubbing DE powder directly onto affected skin.
- Sprinkling a thin layer in nest boxes and coop bedding.
- Mixing DE into chicken dust bathing areas.
Over time, diatomaceous earth can help dry out and kill mites through constant abrasion.
When to Call a Vet
In most cases, diligent at-home treatment helps eliminate a chicken mite infestation within 2-4 weeks. However, contact a veterinarian if you notice any of the following:
- Mites persist after several aggressive home treatments
- Chickens are extremely lethargic or refusing to eat/drink
- You see any signs of bumblefoot or skin infections
- Chickens seem severely anemic with very pale combs/wattles
A vet can prescribe injectable or oral miticides to kill mites from the inside out. They can also provide antibiotics if needed for complications like bumblefoot or skin infections.
Severe mite infestations can quickly threaten your chickens’ health, so don’t delay calling in an expert if home treatments don’t seem effective.
Conclusion
Dealing with a mite infestation is an unpleasant but common part of chicken keeping. The key is acting quickly at the first signs to alleviate your flock’s discomfort. Observe chickens closely for clues like feather loss, skin debris, changes in egg production and behavior. Definitively identifying mites requires parting feathers in affected areas and looking for tiny dots moving along the skin. Then move vigorously to sanitize housing, treat chickens and interrupt the mites’ lifecycle. With persistence and comprehensive treatment, your chickens can return to a healthy, pest-free life.