Hello, I'm new here & question about mites

[jemmerson]

Hi!

I will become a new proud owner of chicks this May and am trying my best to educate myself and fix up the old chicken house in my backyard to be prepared for their coming arrival.

So my real pertinent question that I don't really know what to do about is on the topic of mites. I'm hoping I can get some good answers from you expert chicken keepers! This past summer and fall I kept a vermicomposter (a worm compost bin) inside the old chicken house. After awhile I noticed a new found creature in the compost bin that I am suspecting is a mite. I am not entirely sure though. Does anyone have a real picture if these very tiny things so that I can postiviely identify them? If in fact, these are mites that migrated their way into the bin, then I feel I need to do a major fumigation dusting or a spray to rid of this pest that could really harm my new chickens from the get go. Thanks for your help!

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Hi from the central coast of California. Funny thing! I had the same question a year ago and posted it on this site. I am a serious gardener and do a lot of composting and worm composting. Mites in worm compost usually occur when the compost becomes very acidic. Don't worry. It is not the same mite that attack birds and chickens. Have fun with those new chicks!

 

[Partyfowl]

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio.

 

[b.hromada]

and

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!

 

[jemmerson]

Hey Thanks for welcoming me! And thanks to cambriagardener for confirming the research I did yesterday. I was so relieved to find that they were a different type of mite! But also thanks for letting me know that these mites show up ecause of acidity in the vermicomposter I don't think my worms will like me if it gets too acidic!!!

 

[Woods_Woman]

from Oregon.

 

[okieglory]

from Okielahoma