Leg Scales Different Based on Weather?

I have never had chickens in the winter.

During the spring and summer, their legs had smooth scales, almost glossy looking.

When the cold winter weather (freezing and below) started, their scales slowly became rougher and dull. I thought that maybe they had scaly leg mites, but when I posted pictures no one else seemed to think so.

I have some winter chicks in the shed, and even their legs look dry.

I know that my skin gets dry in the winter, I just never really thought that it could happen to my chickens.


Questions:

• Has anyone else noticed that this happens??

• Do you think it's truly the seasonal changes?

 

Ooh yeah, pictures would help. I might have some of the hens, and I'll have to take some of the chicks in the sunlight tomorrow. I'm glad I'm not the only one whose chickens' legs get scaly in the winter

 

Okay, some pictures.

This first one is of our hens, just after a vaseline treatment for what I thought was scaly leg:


This second one is of one of my (MALE) Easter Egger chicks with legs that are "rougher" and drier than any I've seen on a chick before--of course, I've never raised them in the winter, so that might explain it.


Any of these photos that look really troubling??

 

Thank you, very helpful!! Though I must have some attention to detail problem, as I can't figure out the line between normal and scaly Guess I'll have to keep practicing.

So looks like chickens, like us, get dry skin... kind of adorable.