5 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Mites on Chickens Naturally
5 Ways to Naturally Help Control Mites on Chickens
1. Dust-Bathing Area —
Nesting Box Herbs, diatomaceous earth and wood ash
Includes: 9-herb blend + best dust-bath ingredients
2. Dawn Dish Soap —
bath or diluted spray
Includes: Dawn bath instructions + Dawn mite spray recipe
3. Apple Cider Vinegar —
drinking water, diluted soak or spray
Includes: ACV drinking-water recipe + ACV soak + ACV cleaning spray recipe
4. Garlic —
garlic spray or drinking-water method
Includes: Garlic mite spray recipe + garlic drinking-water recipe
5. Routine Coop Cleaning —
especially roosts, cracks and nesting boxes
Includes: Roost, nesting-box and coop-cleaning instructions
Know When Natural Care May Not Be Enough
If your chickens are heavily infested, very pale, weak or continue to have mites despite your efforts, identify the parasite and seek veterinary or poultry-specific treatment guidance.
Keep reading for the exact recipes, amounts and step-by-step instructions.
What Are Chicken Mites?
Chicken mites are tiny external parasites that can live either on your chickens or in their environment.
One of the most important things to understand is that not all chicken mites behave the same way.
Northern Fowl Mites
Northern fowl mites spend essentially their entire life cycle on the chicken.
They are often concentrated around the vent and at the base of the feathers.
Chicken Mites / Red Mites
Chicken mites, commonly called red poultry mites, behave differently.
They can hide during the day in cracks, roost joints, nesting boxes and other protected areas of the coop, then come out at night to feed.
7 Signs Your Chickens May Have Mites
Mites are tiny, so the first thing you notice may not be the mites themselves. It may be a change in your chicken’s behavior or appearance.
Excessive Scratching or Preening
A chicken that suddenly seems much itchier than usual deserves a closer inspection.
Feather Loss or Bald Spots
Pay particular attention to feather loss around the vent, abdomen and neck.
Pale Comb or Wattles
Blood-feeding mites can contribute to anemia during a heavy infestation, which may make the comb and wattles look unusually pale.
Dirty or Matted Feathers Around the Vent
Part the feathers and look all the way down toward the skin and base of the feathers.
Restlessness at Night
Chickens that normally settle quietly onto their roosts may appear uncomfortable or restless.
Decreased Egg Production
A significant parasite infestation can negatively affect your chickens’ overall condition and egg production.
Weakness or Loss of Condition
A severe mite infestation can take a toll on a chicken. A very pale, weak, lethargic or seriously ill chicken should receive prompt veterinary attention.
5 Natural Ways to Help Control Chicken Mites
I believe the best approach is to make mite prevention part of your normal chicken-care routine instead of waiting until the coop is heavily infested.
Add These Natural Things to Chicken Dust-Bathing Areas
Dust bathing is one of the most natural things a chicken does to care for her feathers and skin.
When chickens dust bathe, they work dry material through their feathers and down toward their skin.
I like providing my chickens with a dry dust-bathing area and adding several natural ingredients to it.
My 9 Nesting Box Herbs
The same nine herbs I use in my Backyard Chickens Mama Nesting Box Herbs can also be sprinkled into your chickens’ dust-bathing area:
I like using herbs as part of my normal coop, nesting-box and dust-bathing routine.
Backyard Chickens Mama Nesting Box Herbs
Don’t want to buy and mix nine separate herbs?
My Nesting Box Herbs contain all nine herbs in one ready-to-use blend.
SHOP NESTING BOX HERBS →Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is another product many backyard chicken keepers add to dust-bathing areas.
Because diatomaceous earth is an extremely fine powder, I recommend using it sparingly and carefully.
Use Diatomaceous Earth Carefully
Avoid creating clouds of airborne dust, especially inside an enclosed chicken coop.
Don’t put it directly around your chicken’s eyes, nostrils or face.
I also wouldn’t rely on diatomaceous earth alone to treat a severe mite infestation.
Wood Ash
Fully cooled wood ash from clean, untreated wood can also be added to a chicken dust-bathing area.
Your chickens will naturally work the fine material through their feathers while dust bathing.
Only Use Safe Wood Ash
Use:
- Ash from clean, untreated wood
- Ash that has completely cooled
- Ash sifted to remove sharp or large pieces
Never use:
- Pressure-treated lumber
- Painted or stained wood
- Plywood or manufactured wood
- Wood burned with chemical accelerants
- Burned trash
Dawn Dish Soap
Dawn dish soap is another method I have used when dealing with mites on chickens.
Lather Mites in Soapy Water With Dawn Dish Soap
If the weather is warm enough for your chicken to become completely dry afterward, you can use the following method:
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1
Use a small tub and fill it with room-temperature water.
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2
Add 1 tablespoon of Dawn Dish Soap.
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3
Put on disposable gloves and gently agitate the water to create plenty of bubbles.
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4
Gently place your chicken into the water and keep her supported for approximately 20 minutes.
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Using your gloved hands, gently work the soapy water through the feathers while avoiding the chicken’s head, eyes, nostrils and mouth.
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Give special attention to the vent and neck areas, where external parasites may be found.
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Use a cup and clean room-temperature water to thoroughly rinse the soap from the feathers.
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Towel dry your chicken and make sure she becomes completely dry and warm before returning to the flock.
Dawn Dish Soap Chicken Mite Spray
During cooler weather, instead of completely soaking a chicken, I have also used a diluted Dawn spray.
Chicken Mite Spray
A simple diluted spray made with just two ingredients.
Add the water and Dawn Dish Soap to a clean spray bottle. Gently mix before using.
Place the mixture in a spray bottle.
Part the feathers so you can reach the base of the feathers and skin, taking care to avoid the face, eyes, nostrils and mouth.
My Original Infestation Routine
If I am battling an infestation, the routine I’ve used is:
- Spray each affected chicken daily for 2 weeks.
- Then reduce to every other day for the following 2 weeks.
Apple Cider Vinegar — 3 Ways I Use It
Apple cider vinegar, commonly called ACV, is another ingredient I’ve used around my chickens and coop.
I use ACV in three different ways as part of my flock-care routine.
Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Drinking Water
My mixture is:
I offer this for up to one week out of the month.
I also make sure my chickens have access to plain, fresh water without ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar Soak
During warm weather, I’ve also used a diluted ACV soak. This allows you to gently work the diluted water down to the base of the feathers while keeping the chicken securely supported.
Apple Cider Vinegar + Water
Use 1 tablespoon of ACV for each gallon of water needed to fill your shallow tub.
How to Give Your Chicken an ACV Soak
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1
Fill a small, shallow tub with room-temperature water.
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2
Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for each gallon of water.
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Stir the water to distribute the apple cider vinegar.
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Gently place your chicken into the water while keeping her securely supported at all times.
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Gently work the diluted water around the base of the feathers, paying particular attention to the vent and neck areas while avoiding the head.
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Use a cup to gently pour the diluted water over the body, taking care to avoid the eyes, nostrils, mouth and face.
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Remove your chicken from the tub and towel dry her thoroughly.
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Make sure your chicken is completely warm and dry before returning her to the flock.
I only use this type of soak when conditions are warm enough for the chicken to dry completely and remain comfortable afterward.
Apple Cider Vinegar & Water Spray
This is one of the easiest ACV mixtures to keep handy around the coop.
Simple ACV Cleaning Spray
Place the mixture into a clean spray bottle.
I use it during routine coop cleaning on appropriate washable surfaces such as:
- Nesting boxes
- Roosting bars
- Undersides of roosting bars
- Coop walls
- Other washable surfaces
If using any diluted mixture directly on a bird, avoid the eyes, nostrils, mouth and irritated or damaged skin.
Garlic — 2 Ways I Use It
Garlic is another natural ingredient that has long been popular with backyard chicken keepers.
There are two ways I’ve used garlic as part of my mite-management routine.
Garlic Chicken Mite Spray
Garlic Mite Spray
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1
Add the water and garlic juice to a clean spray bottle.
Crushed Garlic in Chicken Drinking Water
Another way I’ve used garlic is by adding crushed garlic to my chickens’ drinking water as part of my preventative routine.
Garlic Drinking Water
Crush 3–4 fresh garlic cloves and add them to 1 gallon of fresh drinking water.
After 2 days, I replace the garlic water with clean, fresh water without garlic.
I’ve used garlic water up to 2 times per week as part of my preventative routine.
If adding garlic causes your chickens to drink less, remove the garlic water and provide plain, clean, fresh water instead.
Routine Cleaning of the Chicken Coop
Routine coop cleaning is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the chances of a mite problem becoming established.
A clean coop also makes it much easier to spot mites early.
Pay particular attention to:
- Roosting bars
- The undersides of roosting bars
- Roost joints
- Cracks and crevices
- Nesting boxes
- Coop walls and corners
- Areas underneath the roosts
- Old or soiled bedding
3 Areas I Routinely Clean
Roosting Bars
Clean the tops, sides and especially the undersides and joints of your roosting bars.
This is also a good place to use your diluted ACV-and-water spray during routine cleaning.
Nesting Boxes
Remove soiled nesting material, clean the nesting-box surfaces and replace the bedding with clean, dry material.
This is also where I like using my Nesting Box Herbs as part of my regular coop-care routine.
Walls, Corners & Cracks
Inspect the walls and corners of the coop, paying special attention to cracks and seams where mites may hide.
How to Check Your Chickens for Mites
Don’t just look at the outside of your chicken’s feathers.
Gently separate the feathers and look closely at the skin and feather bases.
A small flashlight can make inspection easier.
Look for:
- Tiny moving specks
- Dark debris
- Irritated skin
- Dirty or matted feathers
- Debris or eggs attached around feather bases
Don’t Forget to Check Your Chicken Coop for Mites
This is especially important if you’re dealing with mites that spend part of their life hiding in the environment.
Try a Nighttime Mite Check
After your chickens have gone to roost, bring a flashlight into the coop.
Look closely at:
- Roost bars
- Undersides of roosts
- Where roosts connect to walls
- Cracks in wood
- Nesting boxes
- Corners and seams
What If My Chickens Already Have a Bad Mite Infestation?
This is where it’s important to separate natural prevention and supportive care from treatment of a severe infestation.
If you’re finding large numbers of mites, your chickens are becoming pale or weak, or the problem continues despite your efforts, don’t keep trying one home remedy after another.
Depending on the type of mite, an established infestation may require a poultry-labeled ectoparasite treatment and treatment of the chicken, environment or both.
Follow product directions exactly and contact an avian veterinarian or poultry Extension professional if you’re unsure what parasite you’re dealing with.
Why Do Chicken Mites Sometimes Come Back?
You may think you’ve gotten rid of the mites only to see them again later.
One reason is that different mite species behave differently.
Some live primarily on the chicken, while others spend much of their time hiding in the coop.
The Important Takeaway
Depending on the mite you’re dealing with, successful control may require addressing both your chickens and their environment.
How Do Chickens Get Mites?
Even a clean chicken coop can develop a mite problem.
Mites may be introduced through:
- Wild birds
- Rodents
- New chickens
- Contaminated equipment
- Crates or carriers
- Contact with infested birds
This is one reason I recommend inspecting new chickens before introducing them to your existing flock.
Chicken Mites vs. Lice: What’s the Difference?
Chicken mites and chicken lice can both cause irritation and feather problems, but they are different parasites. Knowing what you’re looking at can help you decide what to do next.
Chicken Mites
Some poultry mites feed on blood.
Depending on the species, they may live primarily on the chicken or hide inside the coop and come out to feed at night.
Mites are arachnids and have 8 legs.
Chicken Lice
Poultry lice are chewing parasites rather than blood-feeding mites.
They generally remain on the chicken and may cause irritation and feather damage. You may also notice eggs attached around the bases of feathers.
Lice are insects and have 6 legs.
Take a close look at the parasite, your chicken’s feathers and skin, and the coop. Identifying whether you’re dealing with mites or lice is important before choosing a treatment.
How to Prevent Chicken Mites
Check Your Chickens
Periodically inspect the vent, skin and feather bases.
Inspect the Roosts
Pay special attention to cracks, joints and undersides.
Keep Bedding Dry
Remove damp and heavily soiled bedding promptly.
Keep Nesting Boxes Fresh
Replace dirty nesting material regularly.
Provide Dust Baths
Give your chickens access to a dry dust-bathing area.
Control Wild-Bird & Rodent Access
Reduce opportunities for wild birds and rodents to enter the coop or eat your chickens’ feed.
Inspect New Chickens
Look for external parasites before adding new birds to your flock.
Chicken Mite Prevention Checklist
The earlier you notice a mite problem, the easier it usually is to address.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Mites
Can chicken mites cause feather loss?
External parasites can contribute to feather loss, especially around areas such as the vent and abdomen. However, molting, feather picking and mating damage can also cause missing feathers.
Can chicken mites cause a pale comb?
A heavy infestation of blood-feeding mites can contribute to anemia, which may cause paleness and weakness.
Can chickens get mites during winter?
Yes. Don’t assume cold weather automatically eliminates external parasites.
Should I check my chickens or the coop?
Both. Some mites spend most of their time on the chicken, while others may hide in the coop and feed at night.
Do natural methods always eliminate chicken mites?
No. Natural methods can be useful parts of prevention and early flock management, but a heavy infestation may require a poultry-labeled treatment.
My Best Advice After More Than 27 Years Raising Chickens
Don’t wait until you see hundreds of mites.
Make parasite checks part of your regular chicken-care routine.
When you’re collecting eggs, filling feeders or cleaning the coop, pay attention to your chickens.
Are they scratching more?
Are they suddenly restless at night?
Does someone’s vent look dirty?
Is a normally bright red comb looking unusually pale?
Those small observations can alert you to a developing problem much earlier.
Give your chickens good dust-bathing areas, keep the coop clean, routinely inspect your birds and act quickly when something doesn’t look right.
Keep Your Chicken Care Organized
Your flock’s health involves much more than mites.
My Chicken Toolkit gives you personalized chicken-care tools, calculators, health resources, reminders and printable reports to help you manage YOUR FLOCK and YOUR COOP in one place.
EXPLORE THE CHICKEN TOOLKIT →BUGS/INSECTS THAT DIATOMACEOUS EARTH KILLS
| FLIES | SLUGS |
| SAWFLIES | SNAILS |
| FUNGUS GNAT | CODDLING MOTH |
| BED BUGS | SILVERFISH |
| LICE | EARWIGS |
| FLEAS | BEETLES |
| TICKS | COCKROACHES |
| STINK BUGS | MITES |
| SQUASH BUGS | SPIDERS |
| TWIG BORERS | ANTS |
| THRIPS | APHIDS |
Nesting Box Herbs
- Increases egg laying naturally.
- Improves chicken health.
- Deters parasites: mites, lice, fleas & flies as well as mice, rats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums and more!
- On SALE!
- SHOP Nesting Box Herbs
Deep Cleaning of Chicken Coop and Entire Flock
Meet Jenny from Backyard Chickens Mama 🐓
Jenny is a longtime backyard chicken enthusiast who has raised a variety of chicken breeds in her Northern California backyard for more than 27 years.
Favorite Chicken Breeds 🥚
Jenny especially enjoys incubating and hatching fertile chicken eggs and raising baby chicks from day one. Over the years, she has raised many different breeds and loves the colorful variety they bring to the coop and egg basket.
Together, these beautiful breeds create a colorful basket of farm fresh eggs in shades of blue, olive, brown, cream, and speckled tones.
Together, Jenny and her husband built their own chicken coop, and she and her dad built her current chick brooder setup for raising young chicks safely and comfortably.
Over the years, Jenny has learned countless practical tips and flock care routines through hands-on experience caring for her own chickens. She loves sharing those simple, realistic ideas to help others raise happier, healthier, and more productive backyard chickens naturally.
Jenny first created her original Nesting Box Herbs blend to help support calmer hens, cleaner nesting boxes, and healthy laying routines naturally.
As Backyard Chickens Mama continued to grow, additional seasonal herbal blends were developed to help support chickens year-round — including Cooling Herbs for Chickens for hot summer weather and Warming Herbs for Chickens for chilly winter months.
Today, Backyard Chickens Mama offers a full collection of natural herbal chicken care products — including their popular Seasonal Blends bundle — designed to support happier, healthier, more comfortable hens through every season.
