How to Recognize Red Mites in Chickens?

Chickens can suffer greatly from red mites. These pests are primarily active at night when the chickens are roosting. During the early stages of an infestation, you may notice little evidence of red mites during the day, but as the numbers increase, problems will also arise during the day. Therefore, the best way to detect red mites is through a red mite test. This involves using a tube with a stick inside that you hang under the perch and/or place in the bedding. This serves as an ideal hiding spot for red mites, allowing you to quickly determine if there is an issue with red mites in the chicken coop.

Why are red mites so difficult to control in chickens?

The red mite has several characteristics that make it challenging to combat. First is its life cycle. A mite reproduces at an incredibly fast rate. Additionally, it hides during the day and only feeds on the chickens' blood at night, approximately every six days. This makes it extremely difficult to target the red mite at the right moment, both in the coop and on the chickens themselves. Furthermore, the red mite has different stages, and each stage needs to be addressed in a different way: eggs, larval stages, and adult stages.

Stages of Blood Mites

Blood mites go through various stages before they can feed on blood from chickens and reproduce. This process includes the egg, larva, and adult blood mite stages. Within 10 days after the egg hatches, it becomes an adult blood mite that lays eggs daily. Of this total population, 55% feeds on blood from the chicken. Below is a breakdown of the stages: 35% mite eggs, 10% 1st larval stage, 10% 2nd larval stage (protonymph), 22.5% 3rd larval stage (deutonymph), and 22.5% adult blood mites.

The Typical Behavior of Blood Mites

The mites approach the chickens in the dark; during the day, everything seems fine. They hide in small, dark cracks and crevices. They stay as close to the chicken as possible, but in a spot where the chicken cannot reach them. They feed on the chicken's blood only once every 6 days. They reach maturity within 10 days. One adult blood mite lays 8 eggs per day.

Red Mites are Difficult to Reach

The treatment of red mites is extremely challenging, as each stage requires a different approach. Since red mites hide during the day and only the adult mites feed on the chickens' blood, there is no product that addresses all stages. It is also impossible to completely eliminate all red mites; eradication is not feasible. Therefore, the goal of any treatment is to keep the red mite population manageable. Treatment should not only focus on the coop; the chickens also need to be treated. The adult mites can be reached by treating the chickens, while the larval stages are addressed by treating the coop. The eggs are nearly unreachable and can even hatch after 2 years once conditions become optimal again.

Treatment Methods for Red Mites

As indicated, you should apply various methods in the case of a red mite infestation. Below are several possible (natural) approaches:

Weed Torch: By going over crevices with a weed torch, you can destroy red mite nests. This is the only way to thin out red mite eggs.

Predatory Mites: These are natural enemies of red mites, as they feed on them.

Tobacco Stems: Red mites dislike the smell of tobacco stems, making them very suitable to place in the nesting areas.

Internal Herbal Supplement: Adult red mites can be addressed by providing an internal supplement to the chickens (through drinking water and/or feed). This makes the blood indigestible, preventing red mites from reproducing. A combination of the herbs Echinacea, astragalus, uncaria, gentian, thyme, citronella, and citronellal is important for this purpose.

Protective Spray for the Coop: A spray containing silicon dioxide causes larvae to rub their bellies raw; the sticky layer acts like sandpaper. This leads to the larvae drying out and dying. Use this spray in the coop in areas where nests are developing.

Red Mite Traps: Red mite traps are installed between the wall and the perch, creating an additional barrier to keep red mites away from the chickens. The oil in the traps prevents the red mites from reaching the chickens, allowing them to perch peacefully.

Dust Bath: Chickens enjoy taking a dust bath, which also helps them get rid of parasites. A fine sand made of various minerals, with a uniform grain size, stays best between their feathers.