Last on the pecking order

[chickengeorgeto]

Nope, scaly leg mites mostly live on the bird, they are fairly slow growing... Would be good to dust your nest bedding with some permethrin tho.

Scaly leg mites spend their entire lives INSIDE of your bird. They burrow through and under the scales on the feet of your chickens then spend their entire lives living basically INSIDE of your fowls.

A scaly leg mite infestation is exemplified by rough, raised foot scales, often accompanied by black lines that outline the foot scales and in extreme cases oozing black matter coming out from under the scales. The reason for this is that the scaly foot mites defecate inside the bodies of your chickens (ie. under the scales) and this 'mite maurer' sets off all kinds of problems for your chickens. In the worst cases feet mites can lead to your chickens feet falling off or death or both.

 

[Amz87]

Nope, scaly leg mites mostly live on the bird, they are fairly slow growing.
Would be good to dust your nest bedding with some permethrin tho.

...and have you checked them over real well for other mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Thanks so much you’ve been so helpful!! I feel so bad for them I’ve gone away for the weekend, my father in law is looking after them. I will treat them as soon as I get home and check them over for other lice as well.

 

[Amz87]

Scaly leg mites spend their entire lives INSIDE of your bird. They byrror through and under the scales on the feet of your chickens then spend their entire lives living basecally INSIDE of your fowls.

A scaly leg mite infestation is exemplified by rough, raised foot scales, often accompanied by black lines that outline the foot scales and in extreme cases oozing black matter coming out from under the scales. The reason for this is that the scaly foot mites defecate inside the bodies of your chickens (ie. under the scales) and this 'mite maurer' sets off all kinds of problems for your chickens. In the worst cases feet mites can lead to your chickens feet falling off or death or both.

Thank you. Oh my gosh I feel so awful for them, must be painful for them?

 

[aart]

Thank you. Oh my gosh I feel so awful for them, must be painful for them?

George has given an extreme worst-case-scenario example, as usual, that wouldn't happen without long, long term neglect of treatment.
Your case is probably causing some irritation at worst, applying the jelly will relieve that almost immediately.

 

[GrannyHeeney]

George has given an extreme worst-case-scenario example, as usual, that wouldn't happen without long, long term neglect of treatment.

Thank goodness, this just scared the fur off of me ROFL

 

[Amz87]

George has given an extreme worst-case-scenario example, as usual, that wouldn't happen without long, long term neglect of treatment.
Your case is probably causing some irritation at worst, applying the jelly will relieve that almost immediately.

Thank god lol I feel like I wish I had of done more research before getting the girls and I would have been more prepared for things like this. They are my children’s pets and the eggs we get are just a bonus, they are very loved, so the thought of them being in any discomfort is hard. With summer around the corner soon I’m worried how I’ll keep them comfortable, it gets up to 46 degrees Celsius a lot here. I will see if hubby will set up a misting system for us in the spring ready to use in summer.

 

[aart]

I will see if hubby will set up a misting system for us in the spring ready to use in summer.

Misters can really help in dry, desert climates....not so much in humid climes.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

George has given an extreme worst-case-scenario example, as usual, that wouldn't happen without long, long term neglect of treatment....

My description of foot mites is intended to convey the reality of these mites. Notice how I used the words 'EXTREME' & 'WORST'

Feet mites like aart suggested are easy to prevent and treat but you really need to use a cream like Vaseline or some other petroleum based product. If the case is not severe then a single application will suffice.

There are literally hundreds of homeopathic remedies out there and few of them are worth the time it would take to name them. Vaseline, Petroleum Jelly, a.k.a. Food Grade Crud Oil is a homeopathic cure or remedy that actually works wonders for feet or scaly leg mites. It is so easy to apply and unlike dusts, sprays, etc. there is no sprayer, or other apparatus to make, or buy. So there is in my humble opinion no excuse for your chickens to be afflicted with feet mites.

aart is correct in another way. High heat coupled with high humidity is well tolerated by chickens, at least those chickens that the show ring has not destroyed their usefulness by breeding and repeatedly inbreeding extreme genetic mutations. High heat and humidity are part and parcel of a chickens DNA by way of their relationship to the Jungles of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands along the Equator and the Indian Subcontinent.

Extremely Hot and Dry is another thing entirely.

 

[Amz87]

Misters can really help in dry, desert climates....not so much in humid climes.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1477104

I’m in Sydney Australia, we are semi rural and it’s dry heat that we experience. I’ve updated my profile to add that information

 

[Amz87]

My description of foot mites is intended to convey the reality of these mites. Notice how I used the words 'EXTREME' & 'WORST'

Feet mites like aart suggested are easy to prevent and treat but you really need to use a cream like Vaseline or some other petroleum based product. If the case is not severe then a single application will suffice.

There are literally hundreds of homeopathic remedies out there and few of them are worth the time it would take to name them. Vaseline, Petroleum Jelly, a.k.a. Food Grade Crud Oil is a homeopathic cure or remedy that actually works wonders for feet or scaly leg mites. It is so easy to apply and unlike dusts, sprays, etc. there is no sprayer, or other apparatus to make, or buy. So there is in my humble opinion no excuse for your chickens to be afflicted with feet mites.

aart is correct in another way. High heat coupled with high humidity is well tolerated by chickens, at least those chickens that the show ring has not destroyed their usefulness by breeding and repeatedly inbreeding extreme genetic mutations. High heat and humidity are part and parcel of a chickens DNA by way of their relationship to the Jungles of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands along the Equator and the Indian Subcontinent.

Extremely Hot and Dry is another thing entirely.

Thanks! I’m new to chicken keeping and my girls are pets and not just being kept for eggs etc so I’m trying my best to make sure they are in the best health and comfort that I can provide for them. We free range them and they only go in the coop in the evening. (We are on 5 acres but they don’t stray more than about 100 metres from their coop) i do a visual check on them every day but I have only just noticed their feet looking poorly on both my Plymouth’s and my barnevelders look perfect. So tomorrow when I get into the shops I’ll be getting some Vaseline and treating them when they go to bed I should be able to get some better pics of their legs as well. Unfortunately we live in very hot dry heat in the summers.