How to Spot a Mite or Lice Infestation
Mites and lice live in coop crevices and on your chickens themselves, feeding on blood, skin debris, and feather oils. A small infestation can quickly become a big problem if left untreated.
Signs to watch for:
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Constant preening or scratching
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Bald patches near the vent, neck, or under wings
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Pale combs or wattles (from blood loss)
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Crusty legs or scabs
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Visible tiny bugs crawling on the skin or feathers
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Soiled feathers near the vent
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Reduced egg production or energy levels
Check your chickens after dark with a flashlight—mites are often more active at night and easier to spot around the vent and under feathers.
Natural, Effective Remedies That Work
When you want to treat mites and lice without harsh chemicals, go the natural route. Here’s a safe, multi-step strategy that’s easy on your flock—and tough on pests:
1. Offer a Quality Dust Bath
Dust bathing is your chickens' first line of defense against external parasites. Enhance their natural routine with Coop Care’s Chicken’s Choice Dust Bath—a 100% natural additive designed to:
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Remove excess oils where mites thrive
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Keep feathers clean and in peak condition
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Naturally repel mites and lice
Mix it into your flock’s regular dusting area or a dedicated bin to give them an effective pest-fighting spa day.
2. Support Internal Health with Clean, Bioactive Water
Hydration is critical—especially during parasite stress and hot weather. Replace apple cider vinegar (which can upset gut balance in some birds) with Coop Care’s Acimate, a safe, bioactive water additive that:
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Promotes digestive and immune health
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Helps repel internal and external parasites
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Balances water pH without harmful acids
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Is safe for daily use in warm or cool months
Just add it to your flock’s waterer as part of your summer wellness routine.
3. Use Diatomaceous Earth Sparingly
Sprinkle food-grade DE in bedding, nest boxes, and coop cracks—it dehydrates and kills soft-bodied pests like mites. Use with caution and avoid dust clouds that can irritate your birds’ respiratory systems.
Keep the Coop Clean to Keep Pests Away
Mites don’t just live on your chickens—they hide in crevices, roosts, and nesting areas. That’s why coop cleaning is key to prevention.
Enter: Coop Care’s All-Purpose Coop Cleaner
Why It Works:
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Helps get rid of mites, lice, harmful viruses, fungi, and bacteria
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Safe for daily use around birds
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Targets areas where pests breed and hide—roosts, boxes, cracks, walls
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Part of a strong biosecurity routine to keep both birds and keepers safe
Use it as part of your weekly deep clean and spot-spray high-traffic areas daily to reduce pest buildup.
Prevent Future Infestations
Once your flock is clean and calm, keep it that way with these tips:
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Inspect birds weekly in summer
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Keep bedding dry and fresh
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Quarantine new flock members
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Avoid overcrowding
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Maintain a clean, biosecure coop with Coop Care’s trusted products
Make Parasite Prevention Part of Your Summer Routine
Summer is no time for itchy birds or dirty coops. With natural, safe solutions and smart coop hygiene, you can stop mites and lice before they take hold.
Keep your flock clean, calm, and laying strong with:
Coop Care All-Purpose Cleaner
Acimate Water Additive
Chicken’s Choice Dust Bath
