If you keep backyard chickens, you already know the joy they bring. Fresh eggs. Entertainment. A connection to your flock, that is hard to describe to non-chicken keepers.
What most new flock owners do not anticipate is the pest management responsibility that comes with the territory — specifically, mites.
Poultry mites are not just a chicken problem. They are a flock-and-family problem. And the good news is that with the right knowledge and the right products, they are a manageable one.
The Science Behind Poultry Mites
Dr. Andrew Sutherland, Ph.D., BCE, is a UC Cooperative Extension Urban IPM Advisor who has studied biting mites extensively. In his article Detecting and Controlling Biting Mites Within Structures, he identifies backyard chickens as a growing source of mite problems — not just for the birds, but for the people living nearby.
The two species most associated with backyard poultry are the northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) and the chicken mite, also called the red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae). Both are blood-feeding parasites — but they behave very differently, and that difference determines how you treat them.
Northern fowl mites spend their entire life cycle on the bird. They live in the feathers, feed on the bird, and reproduce there. If you are dealing with northern fowl mites, treating the bird directly is essential.
Chicken mites, (red mites), are a different story. They hide in the coop structure during the day: inside wood joints, under nesting boxes, along roosts, in cracks and crevices you may not even notice. They come out at night to feed on the birds and then retreat back into the coop before morning. This is why many flock owners treat the birds, see improvement, and then watch the problem come back. The mites were never on the birds to begin with… they were in the coop waiting.
Understanding which mite you are dealing with, or whether you have both, is the starting point for any treatment plan that actually works.
Dr. Sutherland notes in his research that the growing popularity of backyard chickens, the primary hosts for both species, has increased the likelihood of mite problems spreading into adjacent living spaces, particularly when coops are close to the home.
He also notes that mite populations associated with chickens tend to peak in spring and summer, exactly the season when most backyard flock owners are spending the most time outdoors with their birds. Building preventative treatment into your routine before peak season arrives, rather than waiting for a visible infestation to develop, gives you the most control over the problem.
His colleague Dr. Amy Murillo has also produced an excellent resource specifically for flock owners: Pests of Backyard Chickens — a blog article and video covering mites, lice, and fleas on domestic poultry. We recommend it as required reading for anyone keeping a flock.
Why Mite Problems Keep Coming Back
This is the question most flock owners are really asking when they reach out to us. They have treated. They have cleaned. And two weeks later the problem is back.
For chicken mites specifically, the answer almost always comes down to the coop. Even a thorough on-bird treatment will not reach mites hiding in crevices in the roosting bars, inside wood joints, or under the lip of a nesting box. Those mites survive, reproduce, and the cycle restarts. Red mites can also survive for extended periods without a blood meal, which means they do not die off on their own quickly even if you temporarily remove the birds.
Effective treatment requires addressing both the birds and the coop environment at the same time. Treating one without the other is the most common reason mite problems persist.
When Mites Jump from Coop to Home
Here is the part that catches most flock owners off guard. Mites do not always stay in the coop. If the coop is close to the house adjacent to an exterior wall, near a window, or connected by a run, mites can make their way inside, particularly when populations are high or nesting areas are attached to the structure. They can also “hitchhike” in to the home on your clothes, and your pets.
Northern fowl mites are known to bite humans readily and can survive off their primary host while actively seeking a new blood source. That new source may be you, your kids, or your other pets.
The skin irritation that results, red, itchy welts that appear seemingly out of nowhere, is one of the more unpleasant and confusing experiences for people who have never dealt with it before. The mites are small enough that many people never see them directly, which is part of what makes diagnosis so difficult.
Protecting Your Flock: Premo Guard Poultry Spray
Premo Guard Poultry Spray is a plant-based, essential oil-based formula designed to kill mites, lice, fleas, and other pests on chickens and in the coop. It is safe for use directly on birds and on coop surfaces, including roosting bars, nesting boxes, and bedding areas, the places mites actually live.
Unlike synthetic pesticides, Premo Guard Poultry Spray leaves no harsh chemical residue and is safe for your flock and around your family and pets. It works on contact. Mites are soft-bodied arthropods and are susceptible to contact-based treatment, which is why plant-based formulas are an effective option in this category.
For best results, treat the entire coop first; paying close attention to crevices, roosting bars, and the underside of nesting boxes where chicken mites hide during the day. Then treat the birds directly, focusing around the vent area, under the wings, and around the feathers where mites concentrate. Always follow label directions for application frequency.
Protecting Your Pets: Premo Guard Pet Protector
If you have dogs or cats that share outdoor space with your flock, or spend time in areas where mites may be active, Premo Guard Pet Protector is your next line of defense. It is a plant-based, essential oil-based formula with veterinary input, safe for use on dogs and cats, and designed to kill mites on contact.
Mites that migrate from the coop can end up on your pets before they make it into your home. Treating your pets as part of a comprehensive mite management approach helps close that gap.
Do Not Forget the Laundry Additive
This one gets overlooked constantly. The clothing you wear into the coop, the rags and towels you use for coop cleaning, your bedding if mites have made it inside - all of it can harbor mites and eggs that survive a standard wash cycle.
Premo Guard Laundry Additive is an enzyme-based formula that goes into your regular wash to eliminate mites from fabric. It works in any water temperature and leaves no residue on clothing or bedding. If you are managing an active mite situation, adding it to every load of laundry is one of the most effective and overlooked steps you can take.
Think of it as the third leg of the stool: Poultry Spray for the coop and birds, Pet Protector for your animals, and Laundry Additive for everything fabric. Together, they cover the full cycle.
A Note on Prevention
The most important thing Dr. Sutherland's research makes clear is that prevention is far easier than treatment. Mite populations build up quickly, especially in warm weather, and a small infestation can become a significant problem in a matter of weeks.
For backyard flock owners, we recommend building a preventative spray routine into your coop maintenance calendar starting in early spring, before mite season peaks. Follow label directions for application frequency and increase the cadence if you see signs of mite activity.
Your chickens cannot tell you when they are uncomfortable. Dull feathers, excessive preening, weight loss, and reduced egg production are all signs worth investigating. Get in the habit of regular visual checks of the birds and the coop, a flashlight and a few minutes at dusk when chicken mites are most active can tell you a lot.
Resources
Detecting and Controlling Biting Mites Within Structures — Dr. Andrew Sutherland, UC ANR
Pests of Backyard Chickens — Dr. Amy Murillo, UC ANR
Attack of the Mystery Mites — Video Series — Dr. Andrew Sutherland, UC IPM
Preventing and Monitoring for Biting Mites — Video — Dr. Andrew Sutherland, UC IPM
About Premo Guard: Premo Guard is a natural, plant-based pest control brand offering enzyme-based and essential oil-based solutions for mites, bed bugs, laundry, poultry, and pets. All products are child and pet friendly and free of synthetic pesticides.
