How many times to treat for scaly leg mites

[CathyLow]

Hi all, I inherited a flock of silkies with bad scaly leg mites. I have given them pour on ivomectin from the vets once a week for the last 4 weeks. I'm confused from the information I have read as to whether 4 doses is enough or whether I should continue to treat until all raised scales have gone. They all clearly show improvement but most legs still look dry and have some raised scales. Thanks for your advice.

 

[bruceha2000]

I would guess that the mites that were on the chickens are dead now. Did you clean the roosts so no mites that may have migrated off the chickens are no longer around?

For the scales, castor oil. It has many good properties and will help their legs heal up and isn't "goopy" like petroleum jelly (which has zero healing properties). It will take time for the scales to be replaced so don't look for an overnight improvement on that.

and good luck!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @CathyLow Welcome To BYC
Can you post some photos of the legs?
What were the instructions the vet gave you for using the Ivermectin?

Usually Ivermectin is administered only 2times for Scaly Leg Mites. Once for the initial treatment and then again in 14days.

Ivermectin is fairly effective on treating the mites - I agree with @bruceha2000 the mites are most likely dead with that many applications. The legs would most likely benefit from being soaked in warm soapy water and giving them a gentle scrub with a soft brush. This will help loosen the debris that is under the scales (mite poop). Dry the legs and apply Castor oil, A+D ointment, coconut oil or vaseline, to help soothe the legs. You may want to repeat this a couple of times a week. It can take a while for the scales to start to fall off and new scales to grow in.

 

[bruceha2000]

I would NOT use vaseline. It will glom up in the spaces where the scales are lifted which would make it harder for things underneath to heal up since no air will get down to the skin. Castor oil is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic. It will HELP the birds' legs heal.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...28/castor-oil-to-treat-health-conditions.aspx

People have used vaseline to coat the birds legs to smother the mites. I think I would use CO for that as well.

I used castor oil to remove a wart that Compound W didn't totally get rid of, irritated the skin around where it was used and since you have to rip off the dry part every couple of days and reapply, also pulled off some live wart tissue causing it to bleed. As soon as I stopped using the CW (when the top of the wart was at skin level), the wart started growing again. The CO did none of this and TOTALLY removed the wart with daily application for about a month. I'd used the CW for 2 months.