Poultry, barn and yard questions, answered

Last updated: October 2026

Practical, sourced answers for backyard flock keepers, barn managers and homeowners: how to clean a coop after mites, which disinfectants work on dirty surfaces, how to break a fly or mosquito cycle and what to do about ticks in the yard. Each guide gives the answer first, then the steps, and cites extension services, the EPA, the USDA and peer-reviewed studies. Browse by topic below, or start from the Pest and Pathogen Library.

Poultry, barn and yard

• Can chicken mites live on humans or dogs?Can chicken mites live on humans or dogs? How poultry mite bites look on people and pets, why the mites cannot settle on you, and how to clear them from a home.
• Do ticks die in winter?Do ticks die in winter? How deer ticks survive cold under leaf litter and snow, why adults bite on mild days, winter timing in Ontario, and how to avoid bites.
• How do you clean a chicken coop with mites?How to clean a chicken coop with mites: the step-by-step cleanout, which treatments reach mites in roosts and cracks, and how often to re-treat the coop.
• How do you disinfect a kennel or shelter?How to disinfect a kennel or shelter: the clean-then-disinfect steps, which disinfectant classes kill parvovirus, using bleach correctly, and what about runs.
• How do you disinfect for ringworm in animal facilities?How to disinfect for ringworm in barns, stables and kennels: which disinfectants work on the spores, how to clean tack and laundry, and how long spores survive.
• How do you get rid of fleas in the yard?How to get rid of fleas in the yard: where flea larvae hide, which spots to treat, whether beneficial nematodes work, and which home remedies hold up.
• How do you keep a backyard flock biosecure?A backyard chicken biosecurity checklist: keeping wild birds and bird flu out, quarantining new birds, boots and visitors, warning signs and who to call.
• How do you kill mosquito larvae in standing water?Killing mosquito larvae in standing water: what works in rain barrels, ponds and troughs, how Bti compares with oils and growth regulators, how often to check.
• How is chlorine dioxide used to treat drinking water?How chlorine dioxide treats drinking water: how it differs from chlorine, the limits that apply, how tablets work, and how poultry farms use it against biofilm.
• Hypochlorous acid vs bleachHypochlorous acid vs bleach: how HOCl and sodium hypochlorite differ in pH and germ-killing power, which cleans dirt better, and why bleach and acid never mix.
• Is diatomaceous earth safe for chickens?Diatomaceous earth for chickens: what its dust does to bird and keeper lungs, the 2% feed limit, amorphous vs crystalline silica, and whether it controls mites.
• Mosquito dunks vs bitsMosquito dunks vs bits: how Bti kills mosquito larvae, which form to use in rain barrels, ponds or puddles, how long each lasts, and what the label allows.
• What disinfectant should you use in a chicken coop?Which disinfectant to use in a chicken coop: how bleach, peroxygens, phenols and quats compare, which pose the least risk to birds, and whether vinegar works.
• When are ticks most active?When are ticks most active? Tick season by month for deer, lone star and dog ticks, why adult ticks stay active in fall and winter, and the weather they prefer.