How to spot red mite

Now we know how to keep red mite at bay, but what if they’ve still worked their way in, how do you spot them?

that, while not impossible, it’s very hard to eradicate red mite completely; they breed quickly during warm weather.

Red mite turn a reddish brown colour once they have fed

Firstly, pop a square of white towelling in the corner of your hen house – if it turns a reddish-brown colour by morning well, you guessed it, red mite are the cause. You can also run your finger along the underside of perches, being mindful of splinters. If red mite are present, you will either have smears of blood on your hand or live mites.

Getting rid of red mite So, you’ve identified a red mite problem in your coop. What’s next? It’s important to mention here

However, the steps below will bring the situation back under control: 1. Clean clean clean – sweep out all the bedding in the hen house and strip it of as much material as you possibly can. Remove as many parts of the coop as possible, such as perches, pop holes and anything else that will unscrew easily. 2. Treat everything with a red mite spray and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes 3. Then, power wash the entire house, getting into every nook and cranny as best you can, before leaving it to dry 4. Check the house again for mites and repeat the process if you see any still lurking 5. Once it is entirely dry you can dust the house with Diatomaceous Earth, a non-toxic powder which will kill any remaining mites.

We would advise wearing old clothes and washing these immediately after cleaning your hen house, as well as taking a shower yourself. Red mite can remain on you and your clothing for some time, causing irritation if not removed.

As with any pests, prevention is key, so make sure you take as much action as possible to avoid these little critters making their way into your hen house this summer.