How long to treat for scaly leg mite?

[SavageDestiny]

I have a friend who has 3 chickens- bantam Cochin, EE, and a Mottled Java she's only had about a month. I went over to her house yesterday, and while I was there I noticed it looked like her girls had scaly leg mite. Crusty, raised scales on the Cochin and EE, although the Java doesn't seem to be affected yet.

I know the general idea of treatment- scrub the legs and rub Vaseline in to smother the mites- but how long should she do this for? I can't find anywhere that says how long to continue treatment for. Thanks for any advice!

 

[katbriar]

Until the old scales fall off and the new scales that lie underneath appear.

 

[iwiw60]

Here's a page with all the info you need:

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search?q=scaly+leg+mite

 

[SavageDestiny]

Until the old scales fall off and the new scales that lie underneath appear.

Can't that take months though? Does she really need to treat for that long?

 

[Suzie]

I have had advice here on BYC ( from a very reliable source ) that it can take eight weeks for the mites to be totally eradicated..I inherited a roo with scaley leg mites and he still occasionally gets them...I get frustrated that despite my efforts to eradicate the problem in my flock it manifests itself just when I think all are clear..I have the vaseline tee-shirts to prove the mess it leaves on me...been there and done that..long soaks,oils, creams , disinfected coop, nesting boxes.....it is something I cannot seem to eradicate in its entirety..it is like mites...when I have treated each and every chicken, nesting boxes and coop with permethryn..some wild bird will come and start the whole cycle again for me by depositing their bugs in the vicinity of my flock...love them!

 

[katbriar]

A lifted old scale is the perfect place for a mite to hide. So to be sure that you're safe to stop treating, you should wait until the new, smooth, tight-to-the leg scales are covering the legs.

A few members claim great success with castor oil. And I don't think they applied it every day. Do a search and see what you find.