How To Get Rid Of Red Mite

Experience is one of the best tools that chicken keepers can have. Not only will you be able to notice the signs much quicker, you'll probably have had a fight on your hands with red mite already and be using preventative measures to keep them at bay. All over the internet you'll find forums, blogs and websites with people who are ready to pull their hair out over their red mite problem - nothing they do seems to get rid of them!

Others are just trying to find out if their birds have got red mite in the first place. Anyone new to poultry keeping can often see signs that all is not as it should be with their birds but they just can't find out what the problem is.

Signs That Your Chickens Have Red Mite

• Lack of eggs (reduced laying)


• Sleeping outside the roost


• Wattle and/or comb looks pale and faded


• Excessive moult


• Death


• Blood specs on eggs


• Seeing grey or red mite on eggs, chicken, coup etc

Don't be fooled into thinking that red mite is not a serious problem. Death can occur fast in young chicks and birds that have had a long exposure will eventually fall anaemic and die.

TOP TIP: Go into your coup when it's dark with a wet tissue - rub it along the underside of your perches and if you see blood on it, thats a clear sign that red mite is inside your coup!

In all seriousness the main reason that people end up not successfully treating their red mite problem is because they give up before the job is done. In order to keep red mite at bay you need to get it under control with a lot of work and then continue keeping on top of it with preventative treatments.

If your child was suffering from serious asthma you wouldn't vacuum the floor one day and then let dust build back up for the next seven days before doing it again - with chickens, we are keeping them and it is down to us to keep them looked after and cared for correctly. As harsh as it sounds, if you do not think you are up to that then you should not be keeping them.

Red mite can always be present in some coups, it's just a question of keeping it under control so as not to let the birds suffer and eventually die from the mite.

Another reason that red mite is becoming such a huge problem for poultry keepers is the fact that such strict regulations are in place these days on the chemicals that households can use or that can be used on the birds. What would have worked a treat a few years back and done the trick overnight is not allowed anymore - hence the problem is getting worse.

TOP TIP: If you ask 10 poultry keepers for their method for getting rid of red mite, you'll probably get 10 different replies! See what works for you and stick with it. Afterall, if it's not broke don't try to fix it.

The simplest method of getting rid of red mite completely is to remove your chickens and burn your coup to the ground and start again with only plastic coups - pretty wooden coups made from tounge and groove is the worst type as there are just too many places for the mite to get in behind and wait for you to leave before coming back out again!

Not only can the red mite go into hybernation for long periods of time (personal experience of more than ten weeks) even with no birds present, they can also get into the smallest of places to avoid you getting near them with your mite killing tools so be prepared to carry this through. Basically set aside enough time to completely clean out your coup and strip it from top to bottom.

Follow the instructions below to take control back of your coup and get rid of red mite.

Jeyes Fluid 1lt

Getting rid of red mite can be such hard work depending on the size and location of your coup so make sure that you move it to somewhere appropriate beforehand.

Start with clearing out your coup and removing everything - include the feeders, drinkers and all bedding etc. Wash it down with some basic soapy water and leave for ten minutes. The soapy water should encourage the red mite to come out from their hiding places and its at this time that you should then clean down everything with Jeyes Fluid.

Some say that this will kill the red mite whilst others (including me) thinks that this will take out any that are poorly etc - the strong one's will manage to hide away until the danger has passed. Leave it at this and you will have a red mite infestation back on your hands in no time at all.

I know that Jeyes Fluid is frowned upon by some and the cost can seem a little high, but online there are some great deals that will get you Jeyes fluid at a reasonable price. Below you can see where I get my own stock from.

I'm all for prevention rather than cure and my chickens are no different. Each time I clean my coup out I will follow these steps and I highly recommend that you do too.

Poultry Shield Concentrate 5 Litre

Once the first step has been carried out and you have a nice clean coup all ready, it's time to spray everything with Poultry Shield. Again, it might start to sound like an expensive way of doing things but I know that its what worked for me and thousands of other poultry keepers. I always get the large 5lt concentrate and use a spray bottle to go around everywhere inside the coup with it. The larger concentrate botle works out much cheaper in the long run and it's one to use regularly.

De-Bug Diatomaceous Earth 2 x100g puffer bottles

Open up as much of the chicken coup as possible, doors and any windows and let it air dry. Once the coup is dry to the touch, go in and puff everywhere with Diatomaceous Earth - Diatom for short.

This is top notch stuff that will work its magic (by shredding the red mites waxy surface which causes them to dehydrate and die) on any remaining red mite. You might well be looking at the coup and thinking that there is no way that anything can be left but if you have a wooden coup you WILL have red mite that have managed to get in behind it and hidden so well that you just cannot get to them.

You need to dust down the bedding, roosts etc with it too. You might be wondering what to use on the birds themselves and although not licensed for use in poultry in the UK spot-on seems to be the best treatment for lice and mite. You should talk to your vet before using.