Red Mite in Chickens: Identifying, Preventing and Treating Infestations
I would rate red mite in chickens as one of the biggest problems you will face as a poultry keeper. These tiny nocturnal parasites hide deep in the cracks and joints of the chicken house — especially under perch ends — and come out at night to crawl onto your hens for a blood feed.
The following macro photo, courtesy of poultrykeeper.com shows some of the different stages of the red mite life-cycle.
What Red Mite Look Like
Red mites begin life as tiny greyish‑white specks, almost impossible to spot unless you know exactly where to look. After feeding, they swell and turn red, but even at their largest they are only around 1mm long. Small numbers can go unnoticed, but once you know the signs, you’ll quickly recognise the grey, ash‑like deposits around perch ends and the clumps of mites that gather under perches.
When Red Mite Are Active
A red mite infestation usually peaks during the warmer months — typically May to October in the UK. They become dormant over winter but do not die off. Their life cycle is astonishingly fast: from egg to egg‑laying adult in just 7–10 days. Under the right conditions, a few mites can become thousands in a very short time.
Be Proactive: Routine Checks and Early Action
The best defence is early detection. Check for red mite every time you clean the coop, paying close attention to perch ends, cracks, and joints. Once you know the places they hide, you’ll spot early signs long before an infestation takes hold.
How to Check for Red Mite
Most people only discover red mite when they are already overrun. Left untreated, a severe infestation can lead to losses in the flock. It is easier to monitor and treat red mite regularly during the warmer months while cleaning the coop, then take preventative measures or start treatment if they are present.
Red mites hide in cracks and crevices during the day, but you can often find them by lifting perches and examining the ends. One of the most reliable checks is to take a white tissue and rub it along the underside of the perch at night while hens are roosting. If mites are present they will be crawling along the underside of the perch to go and feed, and you’ll see streaks of blood on the tissue from the squashed mites.
Hens being bitten may:
- Be restless at night
- Refuse to go into the coop at night
- Become anaemic, with pale combs
- Stop laying
- Show red blood smears on eggs (squashed mites)
Red Mite Treatment: How to Reduce and Control Infestations
It is extremely difficult to eliminate red mite completely, so the goal is usually to reduce numbers and then keep them down with regular preventative measures. Many products exist, but the most effective routine I’ve found uses Poultry Shield and Diatom, with red mite powder on the hens themselves for comfort at night.If you don’t currently have red mite and the weather is warm, skip straight to the Preventative Measures section.
1. Treating a Red Mite Infestation
If you find large numbers of mites, you’ll need a thorough clean‑out. The first session takes a couple of hours, followed by repeat treatments every 5–7 days for at least two more weeks.
Using a Poultry Cleaning Spray
You will need a poultry cleaning spray*. Choose one that is a mild detergent that dissolves the waxy coating of red mites at the same time as helping to remove organic matter from the coop.
My process:
Remove all birds from the house.
Strip the coop down as much as possible.
Clean out bedding — seal it in bags or burn it, as red mite can survive 6 months without feeding.
Soak all cracks, joints and perch ends thoroughly with your poultry cleaning spray.
Leave for 15 minutes.
Reapply to any mites emerging from the cracks.
Wait another 15 minutes.
Hose out the coop, jetting into cracks.
Leave to dry completely.
Using Diatom
Once the coop is dry, apply Diatom. This natural powder is made from fossilised diatoms — microscopically sharp particles that pierce the mites’ outer coating, causing them to dry out.
2. Preventative Measures
These steps help keep numbers down once the main infestation is under control — or prevent one from starting.
- Dust perch ends, nest boxes and any known hiding spots with Diatom.
- Rub Diatom into perches so mites must crawl through it.
- Repeat every couple of days while you see signs of mites.
- Repeat the full cleaning routine if mites persist after 5–7 days.
Important: Always repeat this before 7 days — otherwise mites will lay new eggs and the cycle begins again. You need to interrupt the cycle.
Warning - Felt Roofs
If your coop has a felt roof and mites get underneath, it is almost impossible to eradicate them without removing the felt, cleaning thoroughly, and re‑felting. My Chicken Houses page explains this in more detail.
Treating the Hens
Dust hens between their feathers with red mite powder* to give them relief during the night when mites are active.
Next Steps
Once you’ve tackled a red mite infestation and put good red mite treatment routines in place, it’s worth strengthening the other areas of flock care that help prevent future problems. Clean, well‑ventilated housing, sensible hygiene routines, and regular health checks all reduce the conditions mites thrive in. The guides below will help you build a more resilient setup — from choosing the right coop materials to improving run design, managing stress, and keeping your hens in top condition throughout the year.