Chicken coop mite-free – Prevent with these simple tips

How can you prevent mites from infesting your chickens? Mite infestations can occur in chicken coops at any time of year—but especially when temperatures climb into the milder above-zero temperatures after winter.

The parasites' offspring grow in hidden nests in the coop and then usually crawl into the chickens' feathers at night, where they suck blood. This is not only unpleasant for your birds, but also poses a significant health risk.

Even if the mite population gets out of control, it's not too late. With a thorough cleaning of the chicken coop, you can reduce the pests to a minimum. Our Step-by-step instructions for spring cleaning gives you valuable tips.

Here you can find out how you can prevent the parasite from the beginning.

How do I protect my chickens from mite infestation?

There are some measures you can take before mites gain the upper hand. Whether through cleaning, dust baths, or tried-and-tested home remedies, you can ensure that your chickens stay healthy and largely mite-free throughout the year.

Mite-free chicken coop pre-programmed

When purchasing or building your chicken coop, you can take care to prevent mites from settling in later. When purchasing a coop, pay attention to its size and any gaps and holes.

If the coop is large enough for you to walk into comfortably, this will pay off during the first cleaning. It's equally important that there are few holes and cracks that could provide hiding places for mites and other parasites.

If gaps and cracks cannot be avoided, it is recommended to seal them with silicone or plaster before the chickens move in. The sealant must, of course, be checked regularly and replaced if necessary.

You should especially protect the areas where your chickens spend most of their time against mites. This applies to the perches, for example. Simply apply double-sided tape to the outer edges. This will prevent the mites from climbing unnoticed over the perches into the chickens' feathers, as they will stick to them.

If the chicken perches are made of wood, cooking oil has proven effective. Initially, coat the perches every few days. Once they're saturated with oil, repeat the process only once a month. This way, the parasites will no longer have a foothold.

Furthermore, mites have a lower chance of survival if good ventilation and a dry climate are guaranteed in the stable.

Cleaning the chicken coop – how often?

Of course, a thorough cleaning is not only recommended in emergencies. Regularly, and especially in spring, you should Thoroughly clean the chicken coop. This includes not only completely changing the bedding, but also unscrewing all loose parts and thoroughly spraying with a pressure washer—if the coop's equipment allows this.

You should clean out the coop even more frequently, namely once a week. Also, change the bedding and clean the floor, perches, and chicken nests. To disinfect these surfaces, simply add a generous splash of vinegar to a bucket of water and wipe them down.

Another excellent measure is to spray the coop with Effective Microorganisms (EM) after each cleaning. This is a fermented herbal extract that changes the environment of the chicken coop. EM combats odors by reducing rotting processes, providing protection for your chickens' respiratory tract from the resulting gases.

If mite infestation is known in your coop, you can also treat the walls, floor, and bars with quicklime. To do this, apply approximately two coats of lime to the moistened surface with a brush. Lime prevents mites and, thanks to its white color, has the added benefit of making the parasites easier to see. Apply more lime once the animals have worked off the coating in many places.

Dust bath for your chickens against mites

A dust bath in the chicken coop is almost essential to prevent mites from harming your chickens' health. And, by the way, the birds will enjoy brooding in the sand bath!

All you need is a tub or a crate. Make sure you place it under cover! The coop is ideal if there's enough space. Outside, you risk the dust bath turning into a mud pit when it rains. Then brooding becomes impossible, and your chickens won't be able to powder their feathers.

Cumbasil® Mite offers the possibility of a chemical-free dust bath free of nanoparticles. The mineral powder has excellent adhesive properties. When bathing the birds, the particles adhere to your chickens' feathers. It becomes almost impossible for parasites to penetrate – and incidentally, the minerals help the birds achieve shinier feathers.

A dust mask can protect your respiratory system while pouring the dust bath! If the chickens don't immediately accept the dust bath, be patient and give them up to four weeks to get used to it. Incidentally, mixing in 20% potting soil can encourage them to accept artificial dust baths.

As long as Cumbasil® Mite If the tub stays dry and is regularly ventilated by raking, you can refill it as needed. This provides the chickens with an activity they'll love for preening and keeping them occupied.

Alternatively, you can use regular play sand in the tub. The chickens will also enjoy brooding in it. However, the sand doesn't stick as well as Cumbasil® Mite and is therefore not nearly as effective against parasites.

Home remedies to prevent chicken mites

Home remedies have proven effective for generations as a preventative measure against chicken mites, both in cases of acute infestation. They also keep other insects at bay, such as mosquitoes.

Vinegar:

In addition to disinfecting, you can also safely apply vinegar directly to your chickens. To do this, dilute some vinegar in water and massage it into the animals' skin and feathers.

Garlic:

Another mite deterrent is garlic. You can hang garlic cloves in the coop, or mix garlic juice with water at a ratio of 1:10. You can also apply garlic juice directly to the feathers or as a spray.

Tansy:

The medicinal plant (Chrysanthemum vulgare) has been used for centuries to combat pests. Hung in a chicken coop, tansy can work wonders against pests. Be careful! In high doses, the plant can be toxic.

Lavender, tea tree, mint & Co.:

Essential oils are harmless to humans and animals, but they do repel pests. To use them, dilute a few drops with water. 5 drops per 5 liters of water is enough! Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it around the stable every few days.

Walnut tree leaves:

Walnut tree leaves can repel pests, especially in autumn. Hang the leaves from the coop ceiling to dry. Then mix them into the bedding. And, by the way, the chicken coop will smell wonderful!

Soapy water with spirit:

Mix a soap solution with a little rubbing alcohol and lukewarm water (2% solution). If you discover mite nests in the coop, spray them with the mixture. Bird mites have a delicate waxy layer that protects them from drying out. The lye mixture attacks this layer and dries out the mites. The mixture is not harmful to your chickens.

Summary

With prevention and regular cleaning, mites in the chicken coop can be kept to a minimum.

Of course, you should also keep a close eye on your chickens and check their feathers as a precaution. Perhaps only one of them is affected! This way, you can take action at the first sign.