Beginning of Scaly

[Stormie80]

Sorry about where the photos are, I can’t figure this thing out yet. Please read below, is this scaly might? Blue my Whiting True Blue about 26 weeks, starting limping today

. She can get up and go if she is getting away from you, but she is otherwise staying off her feet. August has brought us mites, lice, URI, you name it, we got it. Young flock of 15, some not laying yet. Treating for external parasites, URI which is about run its course, and somebody is running around with bloody poop, so everyone is on Corid again. So with the Corid and antibiotics, I’m giving the unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar. But Blue here, this looks like the beginnings of scaly mite, right? She does not have bumble foot or other swelling, but the close up pics look like mite? Their coop is 8’x8’x10’H, dedicate run 20’x30’ and full access into my garden which is about 40’x100’. Best treatment for everyone considering everything else they have?

 

[azygous]

Yes, I'd say there's a better than even chance that you're dealing with scaly leg mites. The treatment couldn't be more easy and inexpensive. Simply dip the feet and legs in castor oil or paint it on with a brush.

It can be very painful, so that's why she doesn't want to walk on those feet.

 

[Shadrach]

That does look like a minor scaly mite problem.
A couple of points.
Dealing with the live mites, suggestions such as immediately above will work, provided the chickens legs are in the oil long enough to drown the mites. One of the problems with dipping in oil is oil has quite a high surface tension and tends not to flow into the tiny holes the mite makes under the scales.
As a dip, I've found rubbing alcohol much more effective. It penetrates below the scales. Immersion for a few seconds seems to be enough.
I prefer to use a mix of Vaseline 75% and Betadine 25%. the Betadine helps combat the mite crap they leave behind and sanitizes the leg.
But, neither method tackles the eggs the mite lays and in a few days time those hatch and the problem is back. You need to dip or smother a couple of times with a few days in between.
Finally, the scales once lifted do not return to their original position and this can lead one to think the mites are still active. The scales will not look normal again until the old scales are replaced with new. This can take up to a year.

 

[suebee]

I use a few drops of ivermectin mixed with a tablespoon of vegetable oil or baby oil, paint their feet and legs with it using a small paint brush. Repeat if needed.

 

[Stormie80]

Thank you everyone! I treated her legs yesterday, and today stripped the coop down, washed, burned, sprayed, and will be giving everyone a killer dust bath, deworming, and pedicures. Then??? Wait 7 days to re-dust? 14 days to deworm again? Legs need to be painted every other day?

Blue got perkier last night after I did her legs, but she spemy the day sitting, only hobbling if she really wants to go back to coop, I have water and food next to her.

Can that minor of a scaly mite problem be that painful? I looked for an injury causing the problem, because she seems to favor the left side, like her knee hurts. There is no swelling, redness, heat, or bruising. She does not tell me there is a tender spot when I feel her legs. She’s not egg bound because she laid the day before and yesterday. What else can I look for? In anyone’s experience, what timeframe to expect an improvement if it is a strain/spray?

 

[Stormie80]

I noticed too when I moved her, and you see it in the photos, she won’t splay our her left foot.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I once adopted a rooster with some pretty bad leg mites. What I've found to be extremely effective at killing and eliminating the mites is making a mixture of warm water with a few drops of essential oils. I was using a small coffee cup since I was treating a serama so adjust accordingly. You can use peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tee, or lavender or any combination of the above plus a little bit of dawn dish soap. Soak the legs in this for a couple minutes then use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the legs with this. rinse back in the treated water, dry and apply Vaseline to the legs. They will start showing improvement very quickly. I unfortunately didn't take a before picture but the first picture was after the first treatment. I believe this was over about 10 days?

 

[azygous]

Yes, leg mites are painful even in the beginning phase. Roosters are big babies when it comes to pain. Yes, that's been my observation.

Chickens are a lot of bother sometimes. But you have to agree they're worth it.