Poultry Red Mite (PRM) is the most damaging ectoparasite in poultry. According to estimates, over 90% of Belgian layer farms are infested. But the presence of PRM is not only limited to commercial layer farms: the parasite is ubiquitous in Europe. Traditionally, chemical acaricides are used to treat poultry houses. However, these products have adverse effects on the environment and the occurrence of resistance is increasing. In recent years, more research has been conducted into sustainable, natural control methods of PRM. However, the focus has always been on commercial farms of a larger scale.

The aim is to investigate which natural control methods are of interest and are applicable under real-life circumstances on short chain farms with mobile housing units for layers.