Maine newbie requesting advice: scaly leg mites!!!

[bastet]

hey there all!! i'm happy to be here...love this site. i could use some advice from someone who has successfully treated scaly leg mites. we recently purchased some older chickens (about a week and a half ago.) the former owners had hundreds of birds and fairly tight quarters; no outside access. anyhow, some of our new birds have leg scales that are quite lifted up. one of them has started to limp and has what appears to be an abscess between two toes. we have ordered some sulrur ointment (rooster booster, i think) which will come in several days. i can't quite figure out how we will apply the ointment without ruining the effected birds' lives. wont they just take a few steps in the coop and have their legs covered with shavings? they do have a ton of outside access, but they still have to walk to get out of the coop. i also heard about using vaseline and am willing to try that while i wait for the other ointment, but again, the same issue arrises. someone help me!!!!

 

[JewellFarm]

The vaseline basically smothers the leg mites. I have heard of some people using wd-40 with success, but have never tried it myself. It would be worth a shot tho and I wouldn't think it would be as sticky as vaseline.

 

[Imp]

bastet,
here's some good info about scaley leg mites. The abcess sounds like bumblefoot. Going for a link now.

Imp

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=217049

Added a link with good info about bumblefoot

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219319&p=1

Also Welcome to BYC, Good Luck

 

[DonnaBelle]

My big roo had scaley leg mites, a really bad case. I caught him, and rubbed his legs back and forth, really good, with vasiline for 2 nights in a row.

I also gave the whole flock ivermectin, injection type, in their water for 24 hours. The dosage is 1.5 cc per 1 gallon of water. I was given this advice by a BYC lady who raises chickens for a living. Amauracana Police (Jean) is her name. I did as she advised, and his legs are looking great now.

Hope this helps.

DonnaBelle

 

[bastet]

wow! thanks so much for responding to my questions.
IMP, i really found the links useful, so thanks a bunch!! as far as bummblefoot goes, can the swollen part be on the top of the foot, do you know???? anyone??????
DONNA BELLE, where can i find ivermectin? hopefully it is not just by precrip?
thanks again!

 

[Imp]

Quote:
bastet,
Never had to deal with it myself. I think I remember reading that it is caused by a cut or tear to the skin, like stepping on something sharp. So I think the same thing could happen on the top of the foot. It's not like chickens are the cleanest animal. Lol.

I've also never used ivermectin, but if my memory serves it is sold w/o prescription at feed stores. It is labeled for pigs, and the dose is 6 drops to the back of the neck, under the feathers. But I'm not really sure about that. Do a search, it is a frequent topic.

The search button is at the top of the page in the blue bar. Good luck

Imp

The link was easy to find. Voila!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=213829

 

[bastet]

IMP, your links are so helpful. i appreciate it! i spoke to an avian vet yesterday and she recommended treating all birds who have had contact with these sickies, just as though they too were showing symptoms. her prescribed treatment is spraying them with frontline, then again three weeks from now. so i think i'm going to spray the really bad cases and rub their legs with ointment. then i will dose my original birds who are healthy with ivermectin. does that sound like it makes sense? we have never had to medicate before, so i'm completely a novice. we won't be able to eat eggs for a month!!! it has been frustrating for me recently; twice this past year i have purchased birds to add to our flock that have turned out to be ill. i would rather not deal with the hassel of raising chicks myself, but am beginning to think i have no other choice

thanks again for your help!

 

[baregretchen]

Use Frontline spray on your birds feet. It kills the mites completely! A little squirt on the back of the bird's neck under wings and by tail will kill virtually any parasite! I LOVE this stuff!

 

[bastet]

gretchen, good to hear from someone who has used frontline on poultry. how long have you waited before eating the eggs after treatment? do you use it periodically or as needed? have you had to deal with scaly leg mites? if so, have you used frontline to spray your coop?
your household sounds like a LOT of fun!!

thanks!!

 

[b.hromada]

You already have lots of good replys! Any of which, I'm sure will do the trick for the mites. Any way,

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!