Leg mites?

[rod5591]

I was photographing my cockerel and noticed his legs seemed strange looking. Below is a photo. Does he have leg mites? If so can I treat him without having to catch him , etc.? I am not very mobile plus he is growing into a scary little dude, LOL.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

You’re gonna have to catch him for the mites I’m afraid and clean out the coop.

1) soak the feet and legs in warm water
2) dry with a towel, gently exfoliating any dead, loose scales.
3) dip feet and legs in oil, (linseed, mineral, olive, vegetable) which suffocates the mites.
4) wipe off linseed oil and slather affected area with petroleum jelly.

 

[rod5591]

Thank you for your response.

Its a brand new coop and its plenty clean. I just put down some new diaphanous earth. I could spray the coops with something, but what. .

I can not catch the birds. It out of the question, actually. They are small and fast and I am old and slow. Plus I have 16 birds total.

They are not pets and I can not tend to each bird as I would my dogs. Question, What would a commercial poultry operation do? Trying to be realistic, not callus.

Any other opinions would be welcome. I will also go to the Farm Bureau store on Monday when it is open and ask them,.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Thank you for your response.

Its a brand new coop and its plenty clean. I just put down some new diaphanous earth. I could spray the coops with something, but what. .

I can not catch the birds. It out of the question, actually. They are small and fast and I am old and slow. Plus I have 16 birds total.

They are not pets and I can not tend to each bird as I would my dogs. Question, What would a commercial poultry operation do? Trying to be realistic, not callus.

Any other opinions would be welcome. I will also go to the Farm Bureau store on Monday when it is open and ask them,.

Commercial operations would just cull the bird since it is more cost effective. It is treatable. Is there someone that can catch the bird for you? Either to cure or eat haha. My birds are livestock and not pets as well.

 

[staceyj]

Stop the presses.

What signs are you exactly referring to on that beautiful bird? May I please call in a few others?

I could have sworn that a highly regarded member just the other day said that redness, if that’s what you’re referring to is actually a seasonal/hormonal sign and just means he “virile”. That was the exact word used.

Their scales are like keratinous leg armor. They protect them. Eventually they lose a few and a new one grows in its place.

I’m personally not seeing any horrifying evidence of Scaly Leg Mites anywhere.

@coach723
@azygous
@Texas Kiki
@casportpony
@Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 1661363 View attachment 1661364 I was photographing my cockerel and noticed his legs seemed strange looking. Below is a photo. Does he have leg mites? If so can I treat him without having to catch him , etc.? I am not very mobile plus he is growing into a scary little dude, LOL.

Stop the presses.

What signs are you exactly referring to on that beautiful bird? May I please call in a few others?

I could have sworn that a highly regarded member just the other day said that redness, if that’s what you’re referring to is actually a seasonal/hormonal sign and just means he “virile”. That was the exact word used.

Their scales are like keratinous leg armor. They protect them. Eventually they lose a few and a new one grows in its place.

I’m personally not seeing any horrifying evidence of Scaly Leg Mites anywhere.

@coach723
@azygous
@Texas Kiki
@casportpony
@Wyorp Rock

@staceyj you are right, red streaks up the legs can be a sign of hormones. In this case, it does appear to be the case.
I don't really see anything that screams leg mites. As we all know, it won't hurt to apply some type of oil to the legs of a chicken to help sooth dry skin, etc. Sort of like putting lotion on our skin - won't hurt.

@rod5591 I don't see anything that says leg mites, hopefully others will chime in.
I do note that his spurs are quite sharp, so you may want to blunt those a bit. Spurs can dig in and cut hens during mating. He won't mean to, it's just the way it is.

If you have trouble catching your chickens, wait until roosting time - make sure it's good and dark. Wear a red head lamp so you can see, then take your victim patient off the roost and treat them. A large thin towel will help further if you swaddle your chicken capturing the wings and cover the head (make sure they can breath)

Hope that helps.

 

[coach723]

I agree with everything @Wyorp Rock posted.

 

[azygous]

The red streaks down the backs of the legs is a sign of active hormones, and that's also why the cockerel is becoming a bit of a tyrant.

His feet are red and I don't think that's due to hormones. His scales on his feet are lifting up and that indicates he may have leg mites. They don't seem to extend up his legs yet, but if left untreated, they will migrate.

@Wyorp Rock told you the best solution to handling an uncooperative chicken. They are simple to pluck off their perch after dark. Wrap a bath towel tightly around his wings and take him inside where you've already prepared a shallow bowl or pan of thick oil. I use castor oil. Just set his feet in the oil, hold him there for a minute, more than a few seconds, and take him back to the coop and put him back on his perch.

That's all there is to it.

If you cannot handle him or treat him, perhaps you need to give him away or butcher him for Sunday fried chicken dinner.

 

[nancyrat]

We wait till dark to grab our rooster....they are all docile then....easy to catch and treat.

 

[3speckled3]

I recommend Poultry Protector. It worked wonders for me. You can use it to clean the area and it is safe to spray directly on the chickens. You have to use it often, though, to keep the mites away.