HELP!!!!!! Dry and scaly legs!!!!!!

[ChickenGuy53]

HI everybody ok well i have noticed that alot of my chickens have dry scaly legs. t i dont think its mites because a have checked and cant find any. their legs look bad. there all scaly and white. what should i do to treat them and how should i prevent it?? PLS HELP

 

[aart]

HI everybody ok well i have noticed that alot of my chickens have dry scaly legs. t i dont think its mites because a have checked and cant find any. their legs look bad. there all scaly and white. what should i do to treat them and how should i prevent it?? PLS HELP

You can't see leg mites, they are under the leg scales.
If leg scales are raised and crusty, they probably have leg mites.
Post a pic and someone can confirm or deny.

 

[sunflour]

Please do post pic.

Personally interested in how you can tell normal shedding of old scales vs mite infestations.

 

[aart]

Please do post pic.

Personally interested in how you can tell normal shedding of old scales vs mite infestations.

I'm not sure old scales shed and regrow, like feathers molt, do they??...always wondered.

 

[sunflour]

I'm not sure old scales shed and regrow, like feathers molt, do they??...always wondered.

They shed and regrow those leg scales once a year.

 

[aart]

Quote: Do they really?? Why have I never seen any mention of it?

 

[sunflour]

Do they really?? Why have I never seen any mention of it?

It's hard to find references, but here's one with the following comment: http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/poultry/poultry-age.asp

"Also, the scales on older birds will tend to look rougher, particulary at the joints between the toes and the foot.
A new set of scales grows every year and, if the previous set is not completely shed, the build-up leads to roughness."


Others references I have found have too many "cookies" on site to drop on you.


But it makes sense that one set could not last a chicken or other bird their whole life.

Reptiles scale shedding is easy to research and find.

 

[aart]

Quote: Sweet! Thanks! Going to copy into my thread.
I am just amazed that I've never seen any reference to it here on BYC or in my googling.

 

[sunflour]

Sweet! Thanks! Going to copy into my thread.
I am just amazed that I've never seen any reference to it here on BYC or in my googling.

Thanks for the comment.

It just makes sense to me and tried several phrasings before could find any googled support of the idea.