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What is Red Mite?

Red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) are tiny, blood-sucking parasites that are difficult to see with the naked eye. These mites primarily feed on the blood of chickens, often during the night when the birds are roosting. An infestation can be identified by observing signs such as irritation, redness, and small, dark spots on the chicken’s skin, particularly around the vent and under the wings. Red mites can cause significant discomfort and stress to the birds, leading to symptoms like feather loss, anemia, and even decreased egg production in severe cases.

Red mites are commonly found in poultry coops, where they hide in cracks and crevices during the day. They are more prevalent in warmer months but can be present year-round. Regular inspection of your flock and maintaining proper coop hygiene are crucial to preventing infestations and ensuring the health and well-being of your chickens.

Preventing Red Mite

Preventing red mites in chickens requires good management practices and regular treatments to ensure their health and comfort. These mites can cause discomfort and long-term damage if left unchecked, so consistent care is essential. Follow these steps:

  1. Inspect regularly: Check chickens’ feathers and skin for signs of redness, irritation, or small, dark spots as early signs of red mites. Pay special attention to the vent area and under the wings, as these are the places red mites prefer to hide.
  2. Maintain coop hygiene: Clean and disinfect the coop frequently with a product such as Poultry Shield, removing waste and replacing bedding to reduce mite habitats. While plastic housing doesn’t prevent red mites, it does make it easier to jet wash and keep clean.
  3. Provide dust baths: Offer dust baths with diatomaceous earth or wood ash to help chickens naturally repel mites.
  4. Quarantine new birds: Separate and check new or returning birds for mites before integrating them into your flock.
  5. Use regular mite treatments: Apply veterinary-approved treatments like ivermectin or Exzolt as a preventive measure or when signs of infestation are detected.
  6. Support overall health: Feed a nutritious diet and minimize stress to bolster your chickens’ natural defences against pests.

Treatment Options

1. Cheapest Option - Ivermectin

Ivermectin is not licensed for use in the UK for chickens. As a result, it is recommended to avoid eating their eggs for at least 7 days after the final treatment. Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication that works by targeting the nervous system of parasites, causing paralysis and death. Many backyard poultry keepers purchase ivermectin formulated for pigeons, but the dosage must be adjusted to match the chicken’s weight. The weight-to-dosage ratio is usually provided on the product packaging. Treatment typically needs to be repeated twice more, with a 7-day interval between doses to ensure the mites are fully eradicated. If you are unsure about the correct dosage or treatment plan, consult a local veterinarian for guidance.

2. Most Effective Option - Exzolt

Exzolt is a relatively new product on the market and does not require an egg withdrawal period. Treatment with Exzolt is an innovative approach to targeting red mite parasites. When poultry is treated with Exzolt, the acaricide is systemically distributed throughout the bird’s body, effectively reaching the blood. When red mites feed on the chicken’s blood, they ingest the product, which kills the mites upon ingestion. However, Exzolt does require a prescription from a vet. You may find that many vets don’t stock this medication, so you would need to obtain a prescription and then purchase the product online. While Exzolt can be quite expensive, it only requires two treatments added to the chickens’ water supply, spaced 7 days apart, to effectively treat the infestation.