Spring is here, the days are getting longer and egg production is starting to pick up again.
Unfortunately, the warmer weather also brings a few less-welcome visitors to the coop.
Mites love warm humid conditions, and once they establish themselves around roosts, nest boxes and timber cracks, their numbers can increase quickly. Prevention is much easier than trying to deal with a full-blown infestation, so spring is the perfect time to give the coop a little extra attention. You'll thank yourself later!
The aim isn’t to turn your chicken coop into a sterile laboratory. Chickens are chickens. They scratch in dirt, roll around in dust and have absolutely no respect for anything you have just cleaned.
But there are some simple, more natural ways to make life much harder for mites.
First, know what you’re looking for.
Chicken mites are tiny external parasites that feed on birds. Depending on the type, you might find them living on the chicken itself or hiding in the coop and coming out to feed, particularly at night.
One of the easiest places to start checking is around the vent, underneath the wings and through the feathers close to the skin.
In the coop, have a close look around the ends and underneath of roosting bars, nesting boxes, joins in timber and any little cracks or crevices.
If your hens suddenly seem reluctant to enter the coop at night, are unusually restless on the perch, have pale combs, irritated skin or are losing condition, it’s worth doing a thorough parasite check.
Keep the coop dry
A damp, dirty coop creates ideal conditions for all sorts of unwanted nasties.
Regularly remove wet bedding and manure, particularly from underneath the roosts and inside nesting boxes. Make sure the coop has decent airflow and that rain isn’t getting into areas that should remain dry.
You don’t need to completely strip the coop every second day. A little regular maintenance is much easier than tackling months of accumulated bedding once the weather gets hot.
And yes, your chickens will probably poop in the freshly cleaned nesting box approximately four minutes after you finish.
It’s tradition.
Pay attention to the roosts
If I were checking one part of the coop particularly carefully during mite season, it would be the roosting area.
Mites can hide in tiny gaps around roost supports and timber joins during the day before emerging when the chickens settle down for the night.
When you clean the coop, remove the roosting bars if possible and check underneath them and around the ends.
A good scrub and regular removal of built-up debris can physically remove mites and their hiding places before populations get out of control.
Give your chickens somewhere to dust bathe
A proper dust bath is one of the best natural tools your chickens already have.
Chickens instinctively dust bathe to clean their feathers and help control external parasites. They work dry dirt and dust through their feathers and right down towards the skin.
If your girls already have access to a dry patch of fine soil, they will probably create their own favourite dust bathing crater.
If not, provide a sheltered area containing dry soil or sand so it stays usable even after rain.
You don’t need to turn it into a complicated Pinterest chicken spa. Sometimes a patch of dry dirt really is enough.
What about herbs?
Fresh or dried herbs such as lavender, rosemary and mint are popular additions to chicken coops and nesting boxes.
I love using herbs around the coop because they smell beautiful and can be part of keeping nesting areas fresh.
What I wouldn’t do is rely on herbs alone to prevent or treat a mite infestation.
Think of them as part of your general coop-management routine rather than a treatment. Clean bedding, regular inspection and removing mite hiding places are still far more important.
And diatomaceous earth?
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is another product commonly used by backyard chicken keepers.
Some people use a small amount in cracks, crevices and other dry areas of the coop as part of their parasite-management routine.
The important thing to remember is that diatomaceous earth is an extremely fine dust. Chickens have sensitive respiratory systems, so avoid creating clouds of airborne powder or putting large quantities into areas where birds will breathe it in.
I prefer treating it as one small tool rather than covering the entire coop and dust bath in it.
More is definitely not always better.
Check your flock regularly
Probably the simplest preventative measure is also the one most easily forgotten.
Pick your chickens up.
Have a look through their feathers. Check around their vents. Look underneath their wings. Notice what their comb colour normally looks like and whether their body condition has changed.
The more familiar you are with what is normal for your chickens, the quicker you’ll notice when something isn't right.
Spring and summer are a good time to make these checks part of your routine.
Be careful when introducing new chickens
New birds can bring parasites into an otherwise healthy flock.
Whenever possible, keep new chickens separate initially and give them a good health and parasite check before introducing them to your existing girls.
It might feel like an extra hassle when you’re excited about adding a few new chickens.
But we all know how this works.
You went to pick up two hens.
You came home with five.
You may as well check them properly while you’re there.
There’s a big difference between and trying to treat a serious infestation with a handful of lavender.
If you discover large numbers of mites, your chickens are becoming anaemic, their condition is deteriorating or your normal management isn’t controlling the problem, it’s time to use an appropriate poultry treatment and seek veterinary advice if necessary.
Natural chicken keeping should still mean doing what is best for the bird.
Your warm-weather mite checklist
As temperatures start climbing, keep it simple:
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Keep bedding clean and dry.
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Inspect roosts, nest boxes and timber cracks regularly.
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Give your chickens access to a dry dust-bathing area.
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Check underneath wings and around vents.
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Clean manure and debris from roosting areas frequently.
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Quarantine and inspect new chickens before introducing them.
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Use herbs as an optional addition, not as your only form of parasite control.
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If you use diatomaceous earth, use it sparingly and minimise airborne dust.
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Act early if you find mites rather than waiting for the problem to become severe.
A little prevention goes a long way
Keeping chickens naturally doesn’t need to be complicated.
A dry coop, good hygiene, regular dust bathing and physically checking your chickens every now and then will go a long way towards spotting problems early.
As the weather warms up, add a quick mite check to your normal coop routine.
Your girls will thank you.
Or, more realistically, they'll immediately kick all the fresh bedding onto the floor, poo on the clean roost and demand snacks.
