Leg mites?

[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.

I forgot to mention that it can be found at Tractor Supply or Amazon

 

[rod5591]

Thank you all...I thought those reddish scales looked like photos of leg mites that I have seen....that's why I asked....I hope they are not, because i also read the whole flock would be infected. I was thinking "Oh no!". It seemed strange since we are still having very cold weather.
Yes he is a good looking boy, if a bit fierce looking. He is 10 months old now and is quite a bit bigger than the pullets.
I had to handle him just a few nights ago and it was a little difficult. I bought a bigger chicken coop and after setting it up outside, I let the birds explore it during the day and when it seemed to me they all knew where it was, I closed the doors to the two smaller coops I had been using.
I was so surprised that 12 of the pullets roosted in the new coop right away, however the cockerel and 3 pullets decided to roost in a tree instead. I let them do this for one night, but when the same 4 roosted in the tree for night #2, I gathered them one by one about 10 p.m. and placed them in the new coop. Since then, they have all used the new coop.
But grabbing the cockerel didn't go all that smoothly, as I grabbed him too low and he was able to flap his wings and make a ruckus. So I wasn't looking forward to handling him again!

 

[rod5591]

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.

I have culled 5 of my chickens, (4 cockerels and 1 pullet). The way I caught them was I brought a small portable dog kennel into the yard, baited with some food inside. The chickens would go into the cage after the food, and I would swing the door shut. That way i don't have to try to chase them!

 

[rod5591]

Stop the presses.

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

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

Yes, thank you very much!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I could get shot for saying this... but if it turns out your boy does have scaly's (and I suspect he has at least the beginning stages) there has been success treating with ivermectin - easier route when catching every few days is out of the question

@casportpony didn't you succeed with scaly's?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I could get shot for saying this... but if it turns out your boy does have scaly's (and I suspect he has at least the beginning stages) there has been success treating with ivermectin - easier route when catching every few days is out of the question

@casportpony didn't you succeed with scaly's?

Not shot
Treatment suggestions do depend on the "use" of the bird in question.
OP did mention they may butcher, so that's something to consider.

To treat with Ivermectin, the OP will still need to catch the bird, administer it. Catch the bird again in 10-14days. Some even repeat one more time. (3X total)
But catching 2X may be better than catching 1-2X a week for several weeks.

 

[staceyj]

I’ve read that some people have had success spraying the legs with oil based cooking spray which

*maybe could be accomplished at night while they are roosting*

However the roost would still need to be sprayed down on all four sides with something. The easiest to use would be a pyrethrin based horse stall spray
Such as something like this
Which you just use AS-IS straight out of the sprayer:

Or either of these:
This one needs to be diluted according to directions and applied with a spray bottle -

Other areas could be dusted with another easy to use product like this:

 

[Redhead Rae]

Your guy looks like a Delaware or Delaware cross. All my Delawares had those red spots running up their legs after a certain age. I've also seen this in other white feathered, yellow legged males as well. Nothing to be concerned about. It is kind of like how all males after 8-10 months will have red skin on their necks and chests under their feathers. The neat thing is that the redness goes away when you bleed them out to cull them. The red spots in the legs also fade, but usually don't go away completely.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

SLM live under the scales of the legs. Topical applications of Permethrins, Sevin, etc. will not treat SLM. They need to be smothered by working treatment (usually oils) under the scales or the use of a anti-parasitic that is absorbed into the blood stream (like Ivermectin).

Permethrins are very good for treatment of housing. SLM can migrate to other birds so during that time Permethrin is effective. Permethrin is also effective in treating lice and mites that live and feed on the rest of the body.

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/ectoparasites/mites-of-poultry

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Also just to clarify, it is the dry, lifted scale edges points towards SLM to me, the red stripes I totally agree are hormones and nothing at all to worry about!

And yes thanks @Wyorp Rock for pointing out if the bird is to be butchered that does need to be taken into consideration!

Agree also, Permethrin for the coop. Best all round from what I see.