Coops & runs
Red mite in chicken coops: prevention, early signs, and realistic control
Red mite is one of the quickest ways chicken keeping stops being “cute”. Prevention is 10× easier than eradication — and most prevention is coop design + routine.
Brutal truth: red mite doesn’t care how nice your coop looks. Cracks + warmth + neglect is all it needs.
Prevention-first
Early signs
Cleaning routine
Design tweaks
What red mite is (in plain English)
Tiny parasites that hide in the coop during the day and feed on birds mostly at night.
Key point: you fight the coop — not just the hens.
Early warning signs
- hens reluctant to go into the coop at dusk
- restlessness at night
- pale combs / tired birds
- tiny grey/red specks around perches
If birds look unwell, consult a poultry‑competent vet. Don’t “wait and see”.
Why outbreaks happen
- warm weather + humidity
- lots of cracks and crevices
- dirty bedding and droppings build-up
- new birds brought in without checks
Prevention: design your coop to be “boring”
The best anti-mite coop is not cute. It’s smooth, accessible, and easy to strip out.
- Smooth surfaces (fewer hiding places)
- Removable perches (so you can inspect and clean)
- Big access doors (so you actually clean corners)
- Dry airflow (see ventilation)
If your coop has decorative trim and tiny inaccessible gaps, mites love it.
Prevention: routine beats panic
You don’t need constant deep cleans — you need a consistent rhythm.
- daily/most days: scrape droppings board, refresh water
- weekly: replace bedding, wipe surfaces you can reach
- monthly (or as needed): deeper clean + full inspection
How to check quickly (5 minutes)
- Wait until after dark (head torch helps).
- Look at the underside of perches and perch brackets.
- Run a piece of white tissue along cracks — look for tiny dark/red streaks.
- Check nest box corners and lid seams.
- Repeat weekly in warm months.
Reality: if you “only check when there’s a problem”, you’ll always be late.
If you’ve found mites
This is where most people waste money: they treat the birds but ignore the environment.
- Strip the coop (bedding out).
- Clean thoroughly (especially perch areas and cracks).
- Treat the coop using products appropriate for poultry housing and follow label directions.
- Repeat as required — a one-off rarely solves it.
Next step: once controlled, upgrade the weak points: airflow, smooth surfaces, and access. Otherwise it comes back.
Need to improve coop design? Start here: coops that work and ventilation.