Leg mites?

[ShrekDawg]

Is this scaly leg mites?

Video as it's hard to get good stills of a moving chickens legs


[VIDEO]

If so, it seems to be worse on only about 3 or 4 chickens and the others aren't as bad if they even have it.

They're all acting perfectly fine otherwise. In fact, we've been getting 7 or 8 eggs a day from them! Although they don't get to free range really so maybe that is affecting them? The new coop is finally almost finished. I did just let them out to free range for the first time in forever today though, a few hours before bed.

They seemed to like it and foraged well, weren't lethargic or anything.

The only new thing I've noticed is that the BR's face, like around her eyes, seems really pale, like a light pink/white.

Could the poor thing be getting anemic?

I feel awful

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sorry for the horrible quality of the video. Apparently video doesn't help cause you can't focus in on things

 

[ShrekDawg]

Anybody know?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Do you think smaller eggs are just because they're coming out of winter and haven't laid or could it be because of the possible mites? Although the ones with it worse seem to be laying the best and/or biggest eggs so maybe it really is because of coming out of winter and/or breed, I don't know. I just hope they get bigger again soon. Though I do have a few birds who lay jumbos and the others are technically "large" I'd like to figure out which chicken lays the jumbos and buy more of those haha

 

[homestead 101]

Are the scales lifted

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah I think so but I'm not really sure. It seems to be worse on May (the Barred Rock). On the others the scales aren't really lifted that I can tell.

 

[UhaRugger]

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I don't know entirely what leg mites look like. This is our first experience raising chickens and I don't know if they may have leg mites. Not 100% sure if their scales look normal or slightly raised. They seem to be peeling a bit but I don't know if that is because they are still growing? They are only 11 weeks old and just started staying outside full time recently.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Mine went through a phase as chicks before they smoothed out so that could be it. But it also wouldn't hurt to treat it.

I didn't notice mine so it got that bad :/

Still need to treat it, didn't really get any replies so I wasn't sure but was planning to treat anyway but then I've been so busy with classes and assignments and stuff and a project I'm working on I couldn't

Planning to treat this weekend though.

Somebody told me castor oil works better than Vaseline or vegetable oil. I got mine on Amazon.

It could possibly be mites or it could just be a phase but either way I would treat just in case. The oil doesn't hurt them in anyway

 

[homestead 101]

I will post pics tomorrow about how I heeled my hen from a bad case if leg mites. Its really easy

 

[UhaRugger]

Thanks! I'm hoping it's just a phase like you said. But to be safe, I will start a treatment. I will have to buy castor oil. I only have Vaseline or a myriad of cooking oils. I just read some people bathe in dawn and use neem oil. Not sure how the neem oil works. I am assuming they are spraying a diluted mixture of it in the coop. I hope your girls get better soon. thanks for the reply!