Usually there are no clearly defined body divisions. Chicken mites feed at night. During the day they remain in cracks around roosts and interior portions of poultry houses. At night, they feed on the birds as they roost or nest. Chicken mites are small and grey or yellow in color, but darken after filling with blood.
Direct control measures more to their hiding places in houses rather than to the birds.
Northern fowl mites remain on poultry. They are small and red or brown. Feathers of infested birds are discolored by mite excrement and eggs, and the skin is scabby. Control of the northern fowl mite must be directed to the birds. Chicken mites and northern fowl mites suck blood, resulting in emaciation and lowered egg production.