Chicken mites vs lice: what you’re dealing with (and what actually fixes it)

First: when it’s urgent

If you see any of the below, stop Googling and get proper help (urgent vet / poultry expert):

• Very pale comb, weakness, or a bird that seems anaemic.
• Bird is lethargic and losing weight rapidly.
• Skin is damaged/bleeding from heavy infestation or feather pulling.
• You see mites swarming in the coop at night.
• Multiple birds decline quickly.

Quick checks (60 seconds)

• Check at night with a torch: red mite often appears in coop cracks, under perches, nest box corners.
• Look around the vent and under wings for crawling insects or clusters of eggs stuck to feather bases.
• Check perch ends and joints (mites love hiding points).
• Look for dusty grey/red smears when wiping cracks with tissue (mite evidence).
• Ask: are birds restless on the roost at night? (classic red mite clue).
• Make sure there’s a dust bath — lack of it makes everything worse.

Likely causes (the usual suspects)

• Red mite in the coop (hides by day, feeds at night).
• Feather lice on the birds (live on bird, move fast through feathers).
• Dirty coop with lots of cracks and hiding spots.
• No dust-bathing area or very wet ground.
• Stress/crowding causing feather pulling that looks like parasites.
• Bringing in new birds without quarantine.

What to do today

1. Confirm what it is: check birds AND the coop (especially at night).
2. If red mite: focus on the coop — deep clean, remove bedding, and treat cracks/perches using poultry-safe products as directed.
3. If lice: focus on birds — follow a poultry-safe treatment plan (label instructions) and repeat if required.
4. Add/refresh a dust bath (dry soil/sand + access) and keep it dry.
5. Monitor birds for anaemia and stress; escalate if any bird weakens.