Red Mite
Red mite is one of the most common issues encountered by chicken keepers. It is more common during the warmer weather when it breeds rapidly, during the colder months it will go dormant and stop breeding.
It is carried in by wild birds so is unavoidable and needs to be made part of your weekly warm weather health checks.
Hens reluctant to go into the hen house at night
They know they will be eaten alive so avoid going in1
Pale Wattle & Comb
As the hen loses blood her normally dark red comb and wattle become pale & anaemic looking.
Grey Ash like deposit in the chicken house
Mites droppings look like very fine ash in the corner of the houses & under perches.
Feeling itchy when you've been near the hen house.