How to Prevent Mites in Chickens Naturally

Are you a chicken parent and wondering how to prevent mites in chickens naturally? That’s what we’ll be exploring today!

Chicken mites, as infinitesimal as they come, have an appetite as big as Texas and are among the most dreaded nightmares for any chicken keeper. 

Once they find their way into your flock, these evil little creatures can cause far-reaching effects, significantly affecting the quality of life of your feathered friends. They may even cause death depending on the severity of the infestation.

But thankfully, mites aren’t entirely inevitable. With the few preventative measures that we’re about to share, you can easily keep these eight-legged critters at bay, all without spending a dime on industrial products or harsh chemicals. 

What Are Chicken Mites & How Do They Look?

Chicken mites, also known as bird mites, are tiny parasites that live on the skin of chickens and other birds. 

These external bugs are so small, usually measuring a tiny 1/32th of an inch long. That means they’re almost impossible to spot with the naked eye, although we still have some entirely invisible species.

Speaking of the species of chicken mites, there are several of them, with the distinctions coming in the shape, size, and time of activity.

Some of the most common species include:

• Northern Fowl Mites (NFM): They are among the most common chicken mite species and are active both day and night. These ectoparasites are almost white before feeding, turning into translucent red just after a meal. But as digestion occurs, they turn gray or black. 

• Red Mites: These mites are bright red after feeding and barely visible, just like the NFM. However, they’re primarily active at night, usually launching an attack 5 hours onwards after darkness. They remain hidden in the coop throughout the day, mustering energy to attack when night comes. 

• Scaly Leg Mites: This mite species is rare in modern poultry, unlike the two predecessors. It’s entirely microscopic, so you need to rely on your chicken behavior to notice an infestation. It burrows into the tissues just beneath the scales of the chicken. 

• Feather Mites: They’re also rare in modern poultry. They don’t feed on blood primarily, unlike other mites. Instead, they prefer feather oils, debris, fungi, and skin scales. 

These are just a few of the many chicken mite species. There are several others, including cyst mite, depluming mite, and tropical fowl mite. Thankfully, the preventative measures that we’re about to share are effective in keeping all these species at bay when deployed correctly.

5 Simple Ways to Prevent Mites In Chickens Naturally

I won’t lie. Fighting a mite infestation isn’t easy, considering their ability to multiply at a rapid rate. So, the best cure you can adopt is actually to prevent them in the first place. We are really rigid about our efforts to keep the coop clean, and have been lucky so far that we only had a small attack just before Covid.

Here are several ways of keeping mites away that work and are pretty easy to add to your routine with your ladies:

1. Provide A Sand Bath

If there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss as a chicken keeper, it’s a sand bath. Chickens naturally cherish the moments spent rolling around in the dirt. But besides the fun, a chicken bath is a powerful, if not the most potent, weapon for preventing mite infestation.

So, if you don’t have one already, it’s time you make it. It’s an essential part of natural healthcare for chickens and plays a big role in ensuring their overall well-being. 

Just get a nice heat-resistant box and fill it with dirt and loose sand. Then, add wood ash and herbs like lavender, rosemary, thyme, and mint — and that’s it! Chicken mites don’t like any of these, so they’ll avoid coming close at all costs.

Some chicken keepers add diatomaceous earth, which is a good idea. But there’s a caveat to this: Diatomaceous earth contains traces of silica dust. This compound might cause lung issues for your chickens and, even worse, yourself. If you must include it, use a small amount of it, and preferably only when dealing with an infestation. The one we have in the shed is food grade, and can be used for organic keepers.  

2. Avoid Exposing Your Flock to Other Birds

While most mite species remain on the same host their entire lives, only moving when the host dies, some freely switch hosts. This transmission happens through contact with infested birds or inanimate objects like egg flats, crates, or coops.

That’s why if you’re serious about preventing a mite infestation, it’s best to keep your chickens from interacting or having a common point of contact with other birds. 

“Other birds,” in this case, include wild birds or even chickens from another backyard, especially if you don’t know if your neighbor is as committed to preventing mites. 

If you have pets that often go outdoors (and you should I say!), inspect them regularly, as they can easily carry mites into your home. The same applies to any second-hand furniture, carpeting, or bedding you bring into your home. 

3. Make Good Use of Herbs

Putting herbs in the sand bath isn’t enough. Go a mile further and hang some on the chicken coop. In addition, scatter some fresh herbs on the floor for the chickens to nibble on.

Chicken mites have an exquisite sense of smell and find strong scents unbearable. Therefore, hanging and scattering aromatic herbs like chamomile and thyme in the coop makes the place a no-go zone for them, minimizing the chances of infestation. 

4. Use Lime/Diatomaceous Earth In The Coop

Lime or diatomaceous earth are other options if you want to prevent mites in chickens naturally. 

Keep the coop dry and sprinkle either or even both in your chicken coop before you add new bedding. They’ll make the place too hostile for mites.

But again, remember diatomaceous earth is fine and may cause respiratory issues for you and your flock if used in large quantities. So again, only use it sparingly. 

Alternatively, stick purely to lime. It does the magic just as well, with the added advantage of controlling ammonia. 

5. Quarantine Any New Birds

Quarantine is another essential part of natural healthcare for chickens. When adding new chickens, quarantine them for some period before introducing them to the rest of the flock. 2 to 3 weeks of quarantine should suffice. 

During this time, treat them using garlic juice (ensure the ratio of pure garlic juice to water is 1:10) to prevent them from introducing these parasites into your flock. 

Signs of Mite Infestation

If you’re suspecting a mite infestation, we’ve got a few telltale signs you should look out for. They include:

• Reduced egg production
• Blood spots on eggs
• Reluctance to go to the coop
• Feather pulling
• Weight loss
• Reduced growth rate in chicks
• Redness or scabs on the skin
• Visible mites

These are just some of the indicators of a mite infestation. Once you notice an attack, use garlic solution or diatomaceous earth as discussed for treatment, or get in touch with a vet to see how you can work around the problem. 

But then, it’s worth mentioning that chickens are more vulnerable to mite infestation if their health is compromised in some way. As long as you’re giving your flock a well-balanced diet and everything else it needs to live a healthy, happy life, mite infestation is less likely.