05/30/2026
Can we have a judgment-free chicken conversation for a minute? 😅
Let's talk about mites.
Every year, usually after we get some rain and then a stretch of warm weather (you know... like we are about to get next week 🤣) I start hearing from people who suddenly discover their chickens have mites and immediately assume they've done something wrong.
You probably haven't.
Northern fowl mites are extremely common in backyard flocks around here. Wild birds can bring them in. New birds can bring them in. Sometimes they seem to appear out of thin air. If you've had chickens long enough, chances are you'll deal with them at some point.
In fact, I'd argue that finding mites occasionally doesn't tell me much about a chicken keeper. What matters is whether you catch them and address them.
Silkies can be especially sneaky because all that fluff hides a lot. A bird can look perfectly fine from across the yard while a quick vent check tells a completely different story.
When I'm checking for northern fowl mites, I part the feathers around the vent and look for:
• Tiny dark moving specks
• Clusters of mites near the skin
• Dirty-looking feathers around the vent
• Feather damage or feather loss
• Skin irritation
The nice thing about northern fowl mites is that they spend most of their life on the bird, so treatment is often pretty straightforward.
Personally, ivermectin has been my go-to for years. It's what I reach for first when I find northern fowl mites in my flock. Different people have different protocols, but I've found it to be effective and easy to use. You can get it at Tractor Supply. A little spritz of that on the skin between the wings, repeat in 7-10 days and then repeat again if you're extra cautious (👋😂)
Another product that gets a lot of praise is Elector PSP. It's expensive, but people absolutely swear by it. If you're dealing with a larger infestation or have had trouble getting mites under control with other methods, it's worth looking into. This one is supposed to be a once and done protocol. Stick it in a spray bottle and spray your birds down or, what I like to do- fill up a bucket with it and dunk each bird in my Elector bath 🤣
There is a new product on the market that just hit this year- Exzolt- it's made by Merck and if you can get your hands on this, this product is the new gold standard. It goes in the drinking water and is the easiest and likely most effective product we have to date. Unfortunately it is by prescription only so you'll need your vet to get this one for you but if you have a vet that will write up the script, I would go get you some of this magic!
Permethrin sprays can also be very effective. Just make sure you're using a poultry-approved product and following the label directions carefully. When using a spray, I like to focus on both the birds and the areas where they're spending time.
As for natural remedies...
I know DE (diatomaceous earth) is popular, and I know some people feel strongly about it. In my experience, if I already have a noticeable mite infestation, DE alone isn't what I'm reaching for. I view it more as a management tool than a solution to an established problem. I keep some on hand just to sprinkle inside the nesting boxes, especially when I have broodies which is every day 🤣 I'm not sure if it's super effective but it's not very expensive and it's kind of fun and the girls love it
The same goes for herbs, essential oils, garlic, and other natural approaches. They may have a place in an overall flock management plan, but when I find actual mites crawling on actual chickens, I personally want something with a proven track record of killing mites.
The biggest thing is regular checks.
Most mite infestations don't become a problem overnight. If you're handling your birds, checking vents, and paying attention to feather quality, you'll usually catch things before they get out of hand.
So if you found mites this week, don't feel embarrassed.
You're not a bad chicken owner.
You're a chicken owner. 😆
And now for the flock update...
I currently have just 4 females left, plus a ridiculously cute group of straight-run chicks looking for new coops.
And if you've been waiting for the next hatch, there are more babies hatching right now. 🐣
Send me a message if you'd like current availability before they're all spoken for.
Remember- check butts, save fluff! 🤣
