Johnson's Poultry Mite & Lice Powder

Red mite is one of the more frustrating poultry pests precisely because it doesn't live on the bird — it hides in the housing during the day and only comes out to feed at night, which means a coop can look clean while still harbouring an infestation.

This is a natural, non-toxic Diatomaceous Earth powder, which works as an absorbent drying agent rather than a chemical pesticide. Johnson's describe it as effective against red mite and northern mite, working by keeping housing dry — a damp environment being what mites and the moisture-loving conditions they need actually depend on. It can be sprinkled directly onto birds or onto the areas where they lay and live, and it's safe to use on laying chickens. The pack is 250g.

• 250g pack
• Natural, non-toxic Diatomaceous Earth
• Absorbent drying agent
• Effective against red mite and northern mite
• Can be sprinkled on birds or in housing
• Safe for use on laying chickens

How it actually works. This is not a spray-and-forget insecticide — it works by absorbing moisture and creating a dry environment mites dislike, so it needs applying to the housing itself, not just the birds, and reapplying as it gets damp or disturbed. A heavy, established infestation may need more than this alone.

Who it's for: poultry keepers who want a natural option for red or northern mite control that's safe to use around laying birds, rather than a chemical treatment.