Question about leg mites

[blue fire]

Will the scales on the chickens legs fall off at some point after treatment for scaly leg mites? Seems there is a controversy about this.....

 

[robin416]

Just like humans who's skin is constantly being replaced the birds shed their scales to make room for new ones. This is a normal occurrence and not just because of leg mites.

 

[lalaland]

from what I've read, they won't come off until the birds molt. I have 3 birds with bad scaly leg mites, and the scales haven't come off despite months of treatment. These are feathered legs chickens, and I think that has made it near impossible to see any progress.

Although I prefer to avoid insecticides, I am ready to try sevin dust, or a mixture of kerosene and linseed oil (farmer down the road swears by it). I have tried: petroleum jelly, veterx, bag balm, veg oil, with weekly treatments.

First treatment (petroleum jelly) saw immediate results, after that, not so much.

Have you had any luck with your treatment?

 

[blue fire]

I don't know, how do you tell? They did not realy have a severe case of it, I could just lift up the scales a bit, which I was told that means they have scaly leg mites, right? I am using tea tree oil and dads tooth brush

and brushing the toothbrush with oil against the direction of the scales.

 

[lalaland]

oh yeah, i forgot, I tried tea tree oil as well.


a few days after the first treatment, I was able to pick off hard crusty material. after that, not so much.

you have to retreat in 7-10 days to get the eggs that haven't hatched.

if you just have a few scales lifting, i'ld say you could judge success if there aren't MORE scales lifting in a few weeks.

 

[baregretchen]

I recently took in three silkies with the WORST case of scaly leg mites I have ever seen.

Their legs were basically deformed with lumps of scales everywhere. They wobbled when they walked. I really was debating putting them down because I figured they were in pain, but wanted to try at least once before I made that decision. Everyone deserves a chance.

It has been about a month since I started treatment and the lumps of scales have started dropping off and new pink scales are coming in!

Here is what I did and it was very simple. I took some Frontline spray (not the drops) and I soaked their feet in it everyday for three days. Then I smeared vaseline on their feet twice a day for a week. I really think all the mites are dead and gone and now the healing is taking place. Now, I spray their feet once a week just to be sure but don't soak them.

I wish I had taken pics of beginning to end of this process! I was really surprised. One hen did lose a toe in the process. I think it was strangled by the deformed scales. Just kinda fell off.

But, I believe all the others are going to keep all their toes and toenails. Because their feet hurt so badly, I don't think they would scratch up the ground as normal chickens do, so their nails grew to unbelievable lengths. I have started the process of shortening them slowly. Soon they will be back to regular length and hopefully the hens will be able to keep them filed down themselves by scratching.

Best of luck!

- Gretchen

 

[lalaland]

wow, frontline spray? I am going to try that based on your experience. If I go to the feedstore, will any frontline spray do? sorry, I've never used it and don't know if it comes in different strengths or varieties...like, maybe a kind for dogs and a different kind for cats?

 

[lalaland]

another question: soaked their feet in the spray - you mean, you really sprayed them good? or you sprayed it in a container and soaked their feet that way?

 

[robin416]

I had a Silkie boy with a pretty good case of them, I mixed a little bit of pour on Ivermectin in the mineral oil, put it in a small dish. Put the boy's legs in and using a paint brush thoroughly worked the mixture in. Did this once more and that was the end of the problem.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I have a rooster that had them prettty bad. I first sprayed his legs with WD40 a few times and then put pine tar on them.

After a few weeks I used the frontline spray ONCE and more pine tar.

I noticed a big improvement and since have just been hitting his legs with WD40 every so often when he is roosting at night.

Now he is sporting those red legs that hard hitting roosters get.

I do have a few roos that you can lift the scales up right where the foot and the leg meet. I thing this is normal as these guys are Big, Big roosters.