Protecting your flock from Mites
There are (3) types of mites common in Colorado.
The most common mite in Colorado backyard flocks is the Northern Fowl Mite. They will live full-time on the bird, concentrate around the vent area, and can be active even in the winter months. They can multiply fast even in cold weather unlike some mites. They cause rapid anemia and feather loss. Northern Fowl Mites spread easily from wild birds, which are abundant across Colorado both in rural and suburban areas.
The Red Roost Mite is very common in coops, but not always on birds. They hide in cracks and roosts during the day and feed on birds at night. They are often missed during daytime inspections and can survive months without feeding. Red Roost Mites hide in wooden coops, especially older or untreated ones. They survive in dry weather by hiding deep in crevices and are not slowed much by winter if inside a warm coop.
Scaly Leg Mite are occasionally seen in older birds or flocks with limited dust bathing opportunities. They will burrow under the leg scales, causing raised, crusty legs. The mites cannot be seen without a microscope. The damage is slowly progressive but hard to treat once advanced. The dust and dryness from Colorado’s arid environment may delay detection.
If you notice mites, Dawn Powerwash Spray: https://a.co/d/7AbTa9j can be sprayed directly on the mite-infected areas. The mites will appear to melt away upon contact. Can be sprayed on the chickens vent areas, all supplies, and coop walls, especially in next boxes and under their roosting bars. After spraying, rinse well and dry. For an infestation, start by cleaning daily for the first week to ensure they are not reproducing faster than you can kill them off. Dawn Powerwash seems to be more instant than Permectrin https://a.co/d/iUDloC2PSP However, Permectrin is often recommended in the vet and poultry community and might be good to have on-hand and consider using if the mites are too much for the dawn power wash to control mites on your chickens after a few days of consecutive cleaning. PSP https://a.co/d/8im75mG has high reviews of success and you might want to have it on hand and use it if cleaning with the dawn power wash isn't providing full eradication.
Recommended Mite Management Schedule
Bird Inspection
Dawn Powerwash Treatment https://a.co/d/7AbTa9j
DE Dusting (birds + coop)
Deep Clean Coop Weekly (infestation) / Monthly (routine)
Replace Bedding
Add Herbs Biweekly
Maintain Dust Bath Ongoing
Winter Mite Roost Checks Monthly (Nov–Feb)
Consider coop & run upgrades to eliminate mite hiding spots, promote dryness, and support easy cleaning.
What we found the best coop option for us is a plastic shed on a deck with auto doors, solar ventilation exhaust fans, with sealed 2x4’s cut to fit onto saw horses, DE on the floor, with cardboard on the DE and using plastic roll forward next boxes with DE and herbs. I will explain why below and provide our supply list.
Here’s our supply list if you decide to duplicate:
5’x4’ shed: https://a.co/d/6ARukrK
7x7 shed: https://a.co/d/7fRzs5E
Automatic door: https://a.co/d/aRuWtrL
Exhaust fan: https://a.co/d/0315zmB
Saw Horse Roost bars: https://a.co/d/9DMHosz
Roost Bar set for 5’x4’ coop fit: https://a.co/d/1kvhLnV
Nesting Box herbs: https://www.serenitysprouts.com/product-page/copy-of-nesting-box-herbs-egg-laying-stimulant-natural-fragrance
Dust bath mix in: https://www.serenitysprouts.com/product-page/dust-bath
Plastic roll forward nesting boxes: https://www.serenitysprouts.com/product-page/nesting-box-eggs-roll-forward
By using plastic, painted, sealed, or plastic-coated wood and avoiding rough-sawn lumber or open-particle OSB it reduces hiding places.
Improving airflow, discourages rodents/wildlife that carry mites, and reduces moisture. Exhaust fans, elevated roost bars, and ensuring the coop stays dry and free from moisture (DE and Plastic nesting boxes) aid in less moisture.
Having easy to remove roost bars is game changing in being able to clean the coop easy and inspect underneath for mites. Red Roost Mites hide in roost seams/joints. By having a slot style mount of 2x4’s inside of the plastic saw horses it ensures you can clean at the connection unlike nailed-together wooden roosts.
Plastic Nest Boxes are easier to clean and don’t harbor mites like wood.
Having a coop you can easily walk in and pressure wash makes cleaning much more accessible and less of a chore. We put our Dust Bath mix in on the floor and add carboard from old boxes on top. When it is time to clean it makes it easy to roll the cardboard up like a big burrito which can be used for compost.
Ensuring there is a dust bath zone that can be a mix of sand, wood ash, de and our dust bath mix in.
Block wild birds from gaining access to coop and run areas. If you need more suggestions for keeping wild birds rodents out, let us know.
Please share your comments on what works well for you.