Chicken Health | RED MITE
Do My Chickens Have Red Mite?
Red mite (dermanyssus gallinae) can be a tricky problem to deal with when keeping chickens.
Red mites are small parasitic mites that live in your chicken coop in the daytime and feed off the blood of your chickens at night (when they are on the roost).
Coop Materials?
All types of chicken coops can get red mite however wooden coops tend to suffer from infestations the most. All Omlet's Eglu chicken coops are made from plastic which make it very difficult for red mites to make a home. They are quick and easy to clean in the event that there is a red mite infestation. Spray your Eglu with Appletons Poultry Safeguard and then finish off with a quick blast with a pressure washer and this should do the trick. Remember to have the nozzle set wide!
Learn more
Symptoms
- Drop in egg production
- Pale comb and wattles
- Anaemia
- Presence of red or grey mites in the coop
Top Tip: When checking your chicken coop for red mites check the ends of the perches and all cracks and crevices. An easier way to check is to run a white paper towel underneath the perches at night. If there are red mites, at this time they will be on the underside on the perch after feeding on your chickens and you will be able to see red streaks on your paper towel.
Prevention
The best way to keep on top of them is with regular coop maintenance using Poultry Safeguard. Check your coop weekly. Dust weekly with De-Mite Powder on perches and in nest boxes. Regularly give your chicken coop or hen house a thorough (deep) clean. Most of all be observant. Deworm and check birds for external parasites on a regular basis.
Treatment
Regular coop maintenance is a must. Clean out the coop and remove all old floor litter and nest box litter. Do not pre-wash or waterblast. Mix a mite disinfectant detergent Appletons Poultry Safeguard, Poultry Shield or Smite Professional to the required strength with water (using the manufacturer's guidelines). Apply this to a dry coop ensuring you get it in the cracks and crevices. Rinse off with potable water (optional) and let air dry. It's ideal to do the initial clean on a sunny day as the UV can kill some bacteria and will dry the house quicker. Dust with Appletons De-Mite Powder. Rub the powder onto the perches so any remaining mites will have to crawl through it to reach your chickens. Re-apply the de- mite powder every couple of days. Repeat every 5 to 7 days until on top of your infestation. This will treat any juvenile mites that have hatched since the first treatment. Repeat spraying will break the breeding cycle and help prevent re-infection. In severe infestations repeat treat at a higher dose every week until under control.
Help your birds bounce back after a red mite infestation with Agrivite Mite Rescue Remedy or Nettex Vit Boost. It is a liquid complementary feed designed to assist with the recovery of symptoms of a red mite attack such as lethargy and anaemia.
How Do I Treat My Chicken Coop for Red Mite?
Poultry Safeguard Concentrate
This powerful disinfectant and coop cleaner kills all bacteria, viruses and odours plus kills mites on contact. Mix with water in a pressure sprayer and apply to all surfaces in hen house. Best used hand in hand with Appletons De-Mite Powder to keep on top of Red Mite. Do not spray hens directly. NO egg witholding period. Best of all smells nice & is NZ made!
De-Mite Powder
For long-lasting residual control of Red Mite in poultry housing. Organic (natural silica powder)
Best applied with a gloved hand or try our Powder Applicator. Apply to roosts, nest boxes and all nooks, cracks & crannies especially where mites are present. Best used dry. NO egg witholding period. Apply weekly.
Smite Concentrate
This powerful disinfectant and coop cleaner kills all bacteria, viruses and odours plus kills mites on contact. Mix with water in a pressure sprayer and apply to all surfaces in hen house. Best used hand in hand with Appletons De-Mite Powder to keep on top of Red Mite. Do not spray hens directly. No egg witholding period. UK Brand.
Poultry Shield Concentrate
This powerful disinfectant and coop cleaner kills all bacteria, viruses and odours plus kills mites on contact. Mix with water in a pressure sprayer and apply to all surfaces in hen house. Best used hand in hand with Appletons De-Mite Powder to keep on top of Red Mite. Do not spray hens directly. No egg witholding period. UK Brand.