Tiny crawling specks. Different hiding places. Where should you look?
Finding tiny crawling specks on a chicken—or tucked into a roost crack—can leave you wondering what you’re dealing with. Different chicken mites live in different places. Checking only the feathers or only the coop can miss the problem.
Know where to inspect: This guide explains the main mite types and groups associated with chickens, where they’re found, and which deserve the most attention during a backyard flock inspection.
Which Chicken Mites Should I Look For First?
Northern Fowl Mites
- Start with the feathers and skin around the vent.
Red Poultry Mites
- Check roost joints, nesting boxes, and coop cracks. These mites feed on chickens at night.
Scaly Leg Mites
- Look for raised, thickened, crusty leg and foot scales.
Other types to know: Tropical fowl mites, depluming mites, feather mites, quill mites, chiggers, and internal mites. Their importance varies with location and flock conditions.
About “how common”: There is no single prevalence percentage that applies to every backyard flock. Climate, region, housing, and exposure affect which mites occur. Where reliable backyard prevalence figures are unavailable, this guide says so.
About the images: The images in this guide are AI-generated educational illustrations. They show inspection locations and general concepts, rather than verified diagnostic photographs. Enlarged mites are not shown at actual size.
Chicken Mite Comparison Chart
Use this chart to decide where to inspect. Location is a clue, not a confirmed identification.
On smaller screens, swipe across the chart to view all three columns.
Part the vent feathers and examine the skin. Moving specks and dirty, matted feather bases deserve closer investigation. A daytime bird inspection is useful for this mite.
Record what you see instead of relying on feather loss alone to decide that your chicken has mites.
2. Red Poultry Mites
Scientific name: Dermanyssus gallinae
Also called chicken mites, red mites, or roost mites.
How common? Found worldwide; their importance depends on the housing and opportunities for hiding.
Where found? Coop cracks and joints by day; feeding on chickens at night.
Inspect the places where roost bars meet their supports. Nesting-box seams and other sheltered crevices also deserve attention. A daytime feather check can miss these mites.
Bring a flashlight for a separate nighttime inspection. Do not assume a mite is this species simply because it looks red.
After Mites & Lice:
Refresh Your Nesting Boxes 🌿
After completing the recommended cleaning and parasite treatment steps, refresh your nesting boxes with clean bedding and an aromatic sprinkle of Backyard Chickens Mama Nesting Box Herbs, when the treatment label permits.
- 🌿 An aromatic finishing touch for freshly refreshed nesting boxes
- 🧺 Nine dried herbs blended and ready to sprinkle
- 🪺 Easy to incorporate on bedding-change day
- 🔎 Pair your nesting-box refresh with regular mite and lice checks
Important: Herbs do not replace parasite treatment or follow-up inspections. Follow treatment-label instructions before replacing bedding or adding herbs.
3. Scaly Leg Mites
Scientific name: Knemidocoptes mutans
How common? Not uncommon in backyard flocks, although rare in modern commercial poultry facilities.
Where found? Beneath the scales of the legs and feet.
Look for raised scales, crusting, and thickened legs. These tiny burrowing mites are different from the moving specks you might find among feathers.
Photograph both legs in good light and ask for veterinary confirmation before deciding what caused the changes.
4. Tropical Fowl Mites
Scientific name: Ornithonyssus bursa
How common? Mainly associated with warmer regions, but not restricted to the tropics.
Where found? On birds and in nests.
This species resembles the northern fowl mite. Geographic location and nest activity may provide clues, but a close-up drawing is not enough to distinguish them.
5. Depluming Mites
Scientific name: Neocnemidocoptes gallinae
How common? Reported worldwide. That does not mean they are frequent in every backyard flock; local prevalence varies.
Where found? Burrowing in skin around feather bases on the bird.
Irritation can lead chickens to pull out feathers, creating bare patches. The mites are difficult to see without magnification.
Missing feathers are not a diagnosis. Before calling the problem depluming mites, arrange an examination and explain when the feather loss began and how it has changed.
6. Surface Feather Mites
How common? Many species occur in poultry, although these mites are uncommon on modern poultry farms. Backyard frequency varies.
Where found? On feather surfaces.
“Feather mites” describes a group, not one species. Many feed on oils and debris; some infestations cause harm. They are distinct from depluming mites.
7. Quill Mites
How common? Recorded in chickens, but a dependable backyard prevalence estimate is not available.
Where found? Inside feather quills.
Unlike surface feather mites, quill mites occupy the feather’s interior, as shown in the comparison above. Suspected cases need specialist examination rather than a routine visual coop check.
8. Chiggers and Turkey Chiggers
How common? Regional outdoor pests. Turkey chiggers are particularly important in some southern U.S. turkey ranges.
Where found? The parasitic larvae attach to birds’ skin.
These are outdoor exposure problems rather than the same mites that hide in roost cracks. Multiple species exist, including the turkey chigger, Neoschongastia americana.
9. Internal Mites
Include these for completeness, but do not expect to identify them while collecting eggs or parting feathers.
Fowl Cyst Mites
Scientific name: Laminosioptes cysticola
How common? Reported internationally; backyard prevalence is poorly defined.
Where found? Beneath the skin and in body tissues.
Air-Sac Mites
Scientific name: Cytodites nudus
How common? Worldwide distribution, but rare in commercial poultry; backyard prevalence is poorly defined.
Where found? Respiratory structures, including lungs and air sacs.
These require veterinary investigation. Breathing problems should not be assumed to mean air-sac mites.
How to Check Your Chickens and Coop
- Inspect the bird Gently part the vent feathers and look toward the skin.
- Check the legs Photograph unusual scale changes.
- Inspect the coop Examine roost joints, cracks, and nesting-box seams.
- Return at night Use a flashlight to look for nighttime mite activity.
- Keep notes Record where and when you found the suspected mites.
- Confirm the identification Ask a poultry veterinarian or Extension professional whether a specimen or examination is needed.
If your chicken is pale, weak, or struggling to breathe, seek prompt veterinary help.
For a confirmed infestation, use treatment appropriate to the parasite and follow the current product label, including any egg or meat withdrawal instructions.
After Mites & Lice:
Refresh Your Nesting Boxes 🌿
After completing the recommended cleaning and parasite treatment steps, refresh your nesting boxes with clean bedding and an aromatic sprinkle of Backyard Chickens Mama Nesting Box Herbs, when the treatment label permits.
- 🌿 An aromatic finishing touch for freshly refreshed nesting boxes
- 🧺 Nine dried herbs blended and ready to sprinkle
- 🪺 Easy to incorporate on bedding-change day
- 🔎 Pair your nesting-box refresh with regular mite and lice checks
Important: Herbs do not replace parasite treatment or follow-up inspections. Follow treatment-label instructions before replacing bedding or adding herbs.
Continue with my chicken mite and coop-care guide for related flock-management information.
Keep Your Flock Checks Organized
Noticing a change is easier when you have a routine. Keep inspection dates, observations, and cleaning reminders together so you can follow up.
My Chicken Toolkit includes flock records, reminders, practical care resources, calculators, and printable reports to help you manage YOUR FLOCK and YOUR COOP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all red-looking mites red poultry mites?
No. Color alone is not a dependable species identification. Record the location and time of your sighting and seek confirmation when needed.
Are feather mites and depluming mites the same?
No. Surface feather mites, quill mites, and skin-burrowing depluming mites occupy different locations.
Are chicken lice mites?
No. Lice are insects. Adult mites have eight legs; lice have six. Use a verified identification reference rather than relying on the general description “tiny bugs.”
Does a clean coop mean my chickens cannot get mites?
No. Keep inspection on your checklist even when the bedding and coop look clean.
Does this list include every mite species?
No. It covers the main species and groups relevant to poultry keepers. Some groups contain numerous species that require specialist identification.
Start With Where You Found Them
Before choosing a remedy, write down these three important observations:
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🔍 Where you found them Note where you found the suspected mites—on your chicken, around the vent, or in coop cracks and seams.
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🕒 When you saw them Record the date and whether you noticed activity during the day or after dark.
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📝 What changed in your chicken Write down changes you noticed in your chicken’s skin, feathers, leg scales, or behavior.
Make your observations count: These notes make your next conversation with a poultry veterinarian or Extension professional more useful.
References and Further Reading
- MSD Veterinary Manual: Mites of Poultry
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Air Sac Mites in Poultry
- Poultry Extension: External Parasites of Poultry
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory: Depluming Mites in Birds
- Mississippi State University Extension: Control External Parasites of Poultry
- University of Florida IFAS: Tropical Fowl Mite
