Do my ducks and chickens have Mites?

[collingwood]

Hi my chickens have got flaky feet almost like weird scales! And do my ducks have mites because they're losing feathers and itching all over!

 

[mightymax]

It's a real possibility that they might have mites. Chickens can get what's called 'scaly leg mites' that can become pretty severe if left untreated or under treated. The microscopic mites burrow in under the skin of a chickens leg and eat the tissue and 'deposit' stuff as they move along under the scales leaving in their wake hard, scabs that are sometimes crusty in appearance. These crusty scab like things can continue to multiply oftentimes resulting in overly large, swollen and somewhat grotesque pair of legs and feet. All that crud buildup can cause a chicken to lose his or her toes and can even result in paralysis. It is extremely contagious and if one bird in your flock has them, you'll need to treat them all (whether you see any on them or not) or else they'll just keep coming back around. My ducks never got mites or if they did they must of drowned them in all the water they get into because I never saw any on them and they scratched a lot too. I think that must just be neurotic duck behavior...lol !!! They could also possibly just be molting and the new pointy feather shafts coming in make them itch! Good Luck!
-kim-

 

[collingwood]

Thanks how do I treat scaly leg mites?

 

[mightymax]

People has different methods with varying degrees of success. Some soak the legs and feet with olive oil (any oil would do). This basically suffocates them and does nothing for the thousands that might be lingering nearby. Some mix sulfur powder with Vaseline and apply it several times a day for a minimum of 2 weeks (who has time for all that). Then there are those that use the 'trial by fire' method, or more accurately, the gasoline and baby butt cream method. This fun filled method requires that you DIP your chicken's legs and feet in some gasoline (yep, like the kind you use in your car), let them air dry and then massage in some A & D ointment on them. That would be Day 1. Day 2 you just rub in some more ointment and then Day 3 you do day 1 all over again...that's the end of the treatment. Word of caution. DIP !!! the leg in the gasoline. DO NOT RUB IT ON OR RUB IT IN...JUST DIP AND LET THEM AIR DRY !!! And don't repeat this treatment again for a few months at least. The one good thing about it is that the gas gets up under the scales and kills not only the adult mites, but the nits (or eggs) as well. Other options don't and could take up to several weeks of daily (or more) applications to completely kill them and the nits off. Ivermectin can be used also, but depending on where you're located, could require a Vets. Rx.
Hope this helps and good luck !!!

-kim-

 

[collingwood]

I might try that last one because I don't like the sound of the gasoline one but if I have to I'll try that one too!

 

[mightymax]

I completely understand !!! That one scares me too! Just the smell of gasoline is caustic in my opinion, so I'll be darned if I'm going to stick my chickens legs in it. That's why I gave so much detail about that particular treatment. I didn't want people to do it incorrectly and end up with a dead pet because of me. I almost wasn't going to include it at all, but if not me, then I'm sure someone else would mention it (it's been around for a long time) and I thought that at least if I mention it, I'll know it was posted correctly. Personally, I would use the Ivermectin treatment (pour on...no fuss, no muss). Good Luck.
-kim-

 

[collingwood]

I found some old olive oil so I might try that first since I've got everything I need!

 

[Skye727]

If it's mites in their feathers, you can dust them with mite dust. Mine had them at the shaft of the feathers. It worked great! If it is leg mites, olive oil. Good luck!

 

[collingwood]

Thanks I think it's on their legs that's the problem!

 

[collingwood]

I got the olive oil last night and I dipped the feet of my chickens in! I hope it works!