Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Poultry: Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) Control

The poultry red mite is a major welfare problem in layer hens worldwide, causing anaemia, stress, skin irritation and mortality, and is increasingly resistant to chemical treatments.

Key Facts

Dermanyssus gallinae is a blood-sucking mite that feeds on hens at night
Heavy infestations cause anaemia, feather pecking, reduced egg production and deaths
Mites are found in all system types including free-range and organic but not in cage systems
Chemical resistance to older products is widespread and increasing
Physical control methods including silicon dioxide, hot steam and mite-proof perch design are complementary

Welfare Considerations

Red mite infestation causes chronic welfare harm through blood loss, pain from biting, and the behavioural disturbance of nightly mite activity. Heavy infestations cause acute anaemia and death. The welfare burden falls disproportionately on hens in enriched non-cage systems marketed as high-welfare. Integrated pest management approaches combining physical, biological and chemical methods are the most sustainable welfare-protective strategy.

What You Can Do

Support laying hen welfare standards that include red mite monitoring and control requirements
Choose egg brands that demonstrate active mite management programmes
Learn about the life cycle of red mite and why it is so difficult to control
Advocate for investment in novel mite control solutions that avoid chemical resistance