Dreaded red mite...how to deal with the issue and prevent another invasion!
I’ve recently had to deal with a nightmarish case of red mites, so I thought it would be great for me to cover how I eradicated the little devils!
In really bad cases, they can result in the death of the bird, so they must be tackled and tackled well. With correct care, you can ensure you are free of the issue and your chickens are happy for life!
I was told about the most fantastic site recently, Flyte So Fancy (https://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/), I really do recommend visiting if you fancy brushing up on your knowledge of chicken care!
A few things to know about red mites:
Don’t be afraid to get right in there to tackle them, they cannot live on humans so you’re safe!
They’re around the size of a pinprick, grey initially and then turn red after they’ve sucked the chicken's blood. Yuck.
They live inside the chicken coop, lay their eggs within crevices and cracks, and feed on all the parts of your poor chickens whilst they sleep at night.
They feed on the blood, the feathers, the skin and the scales of your chickens!
It doesn’t take long at all for a red mite infestation to kick in, due to their lifecycles. After being laid, the mite larvae hatch within 2-3 days and are fully grown adults within 7 days. They can then live for 8 months!
Signs that you may have a red mite problem:
Reduced egg production
Lethargic & unhappy birds
Weight loss
General poor health, your chickens could develop anaemia due to the blood loss - be on the lookout for pale, floppy crowns as a sign.
Your chickens may not want to be put away at night since the mites attack in the evening, they are reluctant to enter the coop for fear of being nibbled.
When I first notice an infestation, I spring into action!
Treating the coop:
Remove any eggs and hay in the coop, and pull out any pieces that can be removed for cleaning.
Get yourself some Jeyes Fluid, prepare according to the instructions and go hell for leather with the cleaning! I’ve done this about 4 times to get all of the hidden nasties. I even found some under the water feeder during one of my cleans!
Once washed and dried, use Total Mite Kill spray over everything, on both sides to make sure everything is killed off. Lay these to dry somewhere where there is no chance of red mite getting back onto them.
Then, it’s time for Net-Tex Total Hygiene Powder, which is such a great product. Once your chicken coop is dry, apply it to the bed and roosting area. It’s gritty so the red mites don’t want to walk on it!
Next up, a smoke bomb. I used Organ-X Insecto Smoke Bomb Fumers. You pop them onto a plate, light them, make sure the coop is completely closed and give them a good smoking out.
I do tend to move the coop to another area also after cleaning, just in case the mites are in and around the ground around the existing location.
I would suggest when cleaning the chicken coop for the next few weeks, to just give it an extra thorough clean each time to ensure they don’t come back. I just grab the hose with the jet wash attachment and my trusty Jeyes fluid and give it a really good once over.
I then spray again with the Total Red Mite Kill for extra vigilance!
As one final precaution, I like to use lavender and tea tree oil in with the hay and straw of the nest box. If you’ve seen my previous blog post on head lice, you’ll know that I make a homemade spritz and keep it in the downstairs bathroom just in case there is ever an outbreak of head lice at school, spritzing the children as they leave the house. This is in a similar vein, I simply pop a few drops of lavender and tea tree directly onto both the hay and straw mix and the trays of wood shavings to further repel any nasties.
Treating the chickens:
This can be a bit tricky with one person, but it can be done.
Puff the Net-Tex Total Hygiene Powder directly onto them, under the wings, onto their bodies and onto their backs, then rub them all over. I like to do this in the evening before bed, as they are easier to catch and then you know the powder is on whilst they roost for the night and is doing its job during the evening when the red mites are in full effect.
I do also like to add Net-Tex Vit-Boost Poultry Tonic to their water - they have had red mite and can be run down and anaemic - this gives them a boost of vitamins to perk them back up again!
Love,