Leg Mites

[PBGGG]

Hey guys, I noticed today my three old hens have some gross looking legs. After asking around, everyone said yes, they are leg mites. What is the best way to treat it? The nighttime pen is infested with little flying bugs, we used DE in there but it doesn't seem to be working yet. Does anyone have any tips? Thanks in advance!









Here's a pic of the night pen. We cant change out the bedding or anything, because now its all dirt! (don't worry they have more houses inside, its not all bare like that.)

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Dip each leg in mineral or vegetable oil daily for two weeks at least, to smother them. The life cycle of the mites needs to be broken, which is why you do it for that long. Towards the end you can go every other day.

I tried bag balm (vaseline) once but it didn't get rid of them quickly like the oil for me, and I ended up switching to oil. Some have luck with vaseline.

Their scales will molt eventually, and if the scale lifting was mild you should see the scales settling back down again. If their legs are in really bad shape you may need to use a toothbrush to gently scrub at some point. Some soak in Epsom salts to help loosen gunk.

But the smothering is the most important thing, I would also dust or spray your coop and dust/spray your chickens with permethrin poultry dust/spray and repeat in 7 days.

This can eventually amputate toes if left untreated.

 

[PBGGG]

Okay, thanks! Tomorrow we are taking a trip to TSC so we will get some stuff tomorrow.

For right now I cleaned out the bedding, spread DE all over, and put Vaseline on Blu's leg. I will deal with the others tomorrow, they are too skittish.