Identifying Mites and Lice in Your Backyard-and Why Prevention with Elector PSP Isn't the Right Approach

Keeping your backyard flock healthy means paying attention to more than just feed and water. External parasites like mites and lice can sneak up on even the most well-maintained coops. Knowing how to identify them early and use the right products for the right purpose will save your chickens discomfort-and save you unnecessary effort or expense.

How to Identify Mites and Lice on Chickens

Mites and lice are tiny parasites that feed on your chickens, but they behave differently and appear in different ways.

Signs of Mites

• Scabs around the vent area

• Tiny moving specks (often red, brown or gray) on the skin or feathers

• Dirty-looking vent feathers

• Pale comb and wattles from blood loss (don't mistaken molting season for pale combs)

Red Roost Mites vs. Northern Fowl Mites: How to Tell the Difference

While both are common external parasites in poultry, Red Roost Mites and Northern Fowl Mites behave differently-and that determines how you treat your flock and coop.

Red Roost Mites

• Where they live: Red Roost Mites spend most of their time off the bird, hiding in cracks, crevices and roosting areas during the day.

• When they feed: They crawl onto chickens at night to feed on blood, then return to their hiding spots.

• Appearance: When unfed, they're grayish-white; after feeding, they turn dark red or black.

• Signs: Chickens may appear restless at night, reluctant to roost and show pale combs from blood loss. You might notice red streaks on roosts or nest boxes-evidence of crushed mites.

Because they live primarily in the coop environment, treating both the birds and their housing is essential when addressing a Red Roost Mite infestation.

Red Roost Mite

Red Roost Mite Infestation

Northern Fowl Mites

• Where they live: Unlike Red Roost Mites, Northern Fowl Mites spend their entire life on the chicken, living in the vent area and base of feathers.

• When they feed: They feed day and night, causing constant irritation to the bird.

• Appearance: Smaller and darker than Red Roost Mites, often seen as black or dark reddish specks moving quickly on the skin.

• Signs: Dirty, matted feathers around the vent, constant preening and decreased egg production due to stress and blood loss.

With Northern Fowl Mites, the infestation is on the chicken itself, so direct treatment of each bird is the top priority.

Northern Fowl Mite

Northern Fowl Mites on the Chicken

Signs of Lice

• Constant preening or feather picking

• Broken or ragged feathers

• Yellowish egg clusters at the base of feather shafts (especially near the vent)

• Small, straw-coloured insects crawling on the skin or feathers.

Unlike mites, lice do not suck blood- they feed on the feather debris, skin flakes and oil from the birds skin. If you part the feathers, you may see small insects scurrying away or clusters of white or grayish egg sacs (nits) glued to the base of the feather shafts, especially near the vent.

A heavy lice infestation can cause irritation, feather damage and reduced laying performance, but it won't usually cause pale combs or anemia like mites do.

Unlike mites, lice spend their entire life cycle on the chicken, so regular flock checks are key to early detection.

Poultry Lice

Poultry Lice on the feathers and skin of a chicken

Feather Loss and Bald Spots Not Always a Parasite Problem

It's important to understand that feather loss or bald spots are not typically signs of mites or lice. In most backyard flocks, missing feathers are more often caused by:

• An unbalanced diet, lacking essential nutrients for feather growth.

• Intestinal parasites, which can interfere with nutrient absorption and overall health.

In fact, for feather loss to be caused by mites or lice, the infestation would need to have been severe and ongoing for quite some time. Most chicken keepers notice other symptoms-such as itching, scabbing or visible parasites- long before feather loss becomes noticeable.

So, if you see bald patches on your hens, it's wise to evaluate their diet and deworming routine before assuming mites or lice are to blame.

Why Elector PSP Shouldn't Be Used as a Preventative

There's a common misconception among chicken keepers that Elector PSP can or should be used to prevent mites and lice. In reality, it is a treatment-not a preventative measure.

Elector PSP works by targeting the nervous system of parasites, effectively killing existing mites and lice. However, using it when no infestation is present can lead to unnecessary chemical exposure (even though a natural product, using when not necessary, is not a best practice) and wasted product.

The best practice is to:

• Inspect your flock regularly (especially during warm weather or molting seasons)

• Only apply Elector PSP when you confirm an infestation

When used properly, Elector PSP is the most effective treatment available, with the added benefit of no egg withdrawal period-meaning you can safely continue consuming your hens' eggs even during treatment.

Natural Prevention the Right Way: Chick' N Protect

While Elector PSP is your go to for treatment, prevention should focus on natural, gentle repellents and maintaining a clean, dry environment.

A great option for this is Chick' N Protect- a safe, natural product designed to repel mites. It can be sprayed in nest boxes, along roosts and in coop corners where mites like to hide.

Not only does it keep mites and lice at bay, but it also leaves a pleasant scent, keeping your coop fresh and inviting for both you and your chickens.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to managing mites and lice, identification and proper treatment timing are everything.

• Use Elector PSP only when needed-it's the best treatment available with no egg withdrawal period.

• For ongoing prevention and a fresh-smelling coop, reach for Chick' N Protect as your natural repellent.

• And remember feather loss doesn't actually mean mites-check your chickens' nutrition and deworming first.

By combining good flock observation with the right products, you'll keep your chickens comfortable, parasite-free and thriving year-round.

Recommended Products

Elector PSP - The most effective treatment for mites and lice, with no egg withdrawal period. Use only when needed for quick, reliable results.

Chick' N Protect - A safe and natural repellent that helps deter mites while leaving your coop smelling fresh and clean. Perfect for regular maintenance and prevention.