Our ultimate guide to red mite

Summer is here, which means al fresco dining and beach days for us but, sadly, it can bring with it unwanted visitors for our hens.

These pests are yellowy-brown in colour, becoming red after feeding on the blood of your hens. They are almost invisible to the naked eye (0.6 to 1mm) and live in cracks, crevices and on perches during the day and feed on hens at night.

You may notice your hens scratching but another obvious sign of red mite infestation is your hens’ reluctance to enter their coop and/or a change in their perching habits; this is because they know there’s something in there causing irritation.

Plastic coops are generally easier to clean than wooden ones

Red mite, a bit like fleas, can be the bane of a pet keeper's life and, if not dealt with quickly enough, can cause health implications for our pet hens. However, with some preventative action it is possible to keep red mites away or, at the very least, under control.

Preventing red mite 1. Routine cleaning avoids a build-up of dirt and dust in the corners of hen houses where red mite love to hide 2. Plastic coops are generally easier to clean than wooden houses, so worth bearing this in mind 3. Quarantining new hens minimises the chance of red mite spreading between flocks, as well as making the transition easier for your new pets 4. Use Diatomaceous Earth in your hen house, paying particular attention to the cracks and crevices 5. Encourage regular dust bathing by providing a space for your hens to do this 6. Keep your hens’ feed under cover or do what you can to stop wild birds accessing it 7. Change your clothes if you’ve been to visit a fellow hen keeper, just in case they unknowingly have a case of red mite